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THE  OFFICIAL  HISTORY 


A 


OF    THE 


GREAT  STRIKE  OF  18: 


OX    THE 


SOUTHWESTERN  RAILWAY  SYSTEM, 


dOMPILED  BY  THE    BUREAU  OF   LABOR    STATISTICS  AND 

INSPECTION  OF  MISSOURI. 


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JEFFERSON  CITY: 

TRIBUNE   PRINTING    COMPANY,    STATE  PRINTERS   AND     BINDERS. 

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Introduction, 


This  history  may  be  of  value  to  the  members  of  the  General 
Assembly  and  others  who  are  studying-  the  labor  problems  now  monop- 
olizing so  much  of  public  attention. 

It  is  simply  a  compilation  of  historical  facts,  official  correspondence 
and  important  data  obtained  from  the  most  trustworthy  sources.  It  is 
intended  to  be  perfectly  fair  and  impartial,  and  where  deductions  are 
drawn  at  all  they  are  only  natural  and  logical  conclusions.  As  to  the 
merits  of  the  contest  between  the  Knights  of  Labor  and  the  railways, 
the  reader  must  form  his  own  opinion. 

This,  with  unimportant  eliminations  and  additions,  is  the  report 
prepared  for  the  National  Bureau  of  Labor. 


7741^o 


THE  GREAT  STRIKE  OF  1886. 


In  March,  1886,  the  Missouri  Pacific  Bailroad  and  its  various 
branches,  commonly  known  as  the  Southwestern  or  Gould  system,  em- 
braced a  vast  territory  in  Missouri,  Kansas,  Texas,  Arkansas,  Indian 
Territory  and  Nebraska,  with  a  total  mileage  of  four  thousand  one  hun- 
dred and  fifteen  miles,  divided  as  follows : 

In  Missouri,  1391  miles ;  in  Kansas,  820  miles ;  in  Nebraska,  116 
miles  ;  in  Indian  Territory,  320  miles  ;  in  Texas,  1,408  miles  ;  in  Arkan- 
sas, 460  miles. 

This  does  not  include  the  Texas  and  Pacific  Eailway,  1,487  miles 
long,  which  was  then,  as  it  is  now,  in  the  hands  of  a  receiver,  appointed 
by  the  United  States  Court. 

This  vast  system  employed  some  14,000  men  in  its  various  depart- 
ments. 

After  the  voluntary  agreement  made  by  the  Missouri  Pacific  Eail- 
way Company,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  State  officers  of  Missouri  and 
Kansas,  on  March  15,  1885,  which  is  as  follows : 


"The  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company,  Leased  asd  Operated  Lines,  and 
Texas  Pacific  Railway  Company.    Office  ok  First  Vice-Prksidint, 

ISt.  Louis,  Mo.,  March  15,  18S5 


"I 


"The  following  suggestions  have  been  presented  to  the  undersigned 
as  a  solution  of  the  difficulties  at  present  impeding  the  operations  of 
these  railroads : 

"To  Capt.  E.  S.  Hayes,  First  Vice-President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer 
of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company  and  associated  roads  : 

"Whereas,  On  account  of  the  strike  among  certain  of  the  employes 
of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Eailway  Company  in  the  States  of  Missouri  and 
Kansas,  resulting  in  the  stoppage  and  cessation  of  all  freight  traffic 
over  said  company's  lines  in  said  States,  to  the  great  detriment  of  the 
business  interests  and  rights  of  the  people  of  said  States,  and  the  con- 


6  BUREAU  OF  LABOR  STATISTICS. 


tinuance  of  which  endangers  the  public  peace  and  the  safety  of  the 
company's  property ;  and, 

"Whereas,  The  undersigned,  representing  the  two  States  named 
above  respectively,  anxious  to  restore  harmonious  relations  between 
the  said  company  and  its  said  employes,  and  to  restore  to  the  public 
the  unobstructed  use  of  said  lines  of  railroad,  do  recommend  and  re- 
quest said  company  to  restore  to  its  striking  employes  in  Missouri  and 
Kansas  the  same  wages  paid  them  in  September,  1884,  including  one 
and  one-half  price  for  extra  time  worked ;  and  to  restore  all  said  strik- 
ing employes  to  their  several  employments  without  prejudice  to  them 
on  account  of  said  strike. 

"  Believing  that  the  foregoing  will  constitute  a  just  and  fair  settle- 
ment, we  recommend  their  acceptance  by  the  striking  employes,  as  well 
as  by  the  Missouri  Pacific  Bailway  Company. 
"  Dated  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  March  15,  1885. 

[Signed]  "  JOHN  A.  MARTIN, 

"  Governor  of  Kansas. 
"  JOHN  S.  MAEMADUKE, 

"  Governor  of  Missouri. 

"L.  L.  Turner,  Almerin  Gillett,  James  Humphrey,  Eailroad  Commis- 
sioners of  Kansas. 

"  Geo.  C.  Pratt,  James  Harding,  W.  G.  Downing,  Eailroad  Commis- 
sioners of  Missouri. 

"B.  G.  Boone,  Attorney-General  of  Missouri ;  J.  C.  Jamison,  Adju- 
tant-General ;  Oscar  Kochtitzky,  Commissioner  of  Labor  Statistics  and 
Inspection. 

"With  a  desire  to  concur  with  the  recommendations  expressed  above 
by  State  officials,  and  to  open  the  usual  avenues  of  commerce,  and  with 
a  spirit  of  amity  and  harmony  towards  the  employes  of  these  compa- 
nies, this  is  to  give  notice  that  the  rates  of  wages  and  terms  above 
specified  will  go  into  effect  on  Monday  morning,  March  16  inst.,  and  be 
in  effect  from  and  after  that  date. 

"  Hereafter  said  rates  will  not  be  changed  except  after  thirty  days' 
notice  thereof,  given  in  the  usual  way. 

"E.  S.  HAYES, 

"First  Vice-President. 

"  Heads  of  departments  to  which  the  above  applies  will  act  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  provisions  of  the  above  circular. 

"H.  M.  HOXIE, 

"  Third  Vice-President." 


BUREAU  OF  LABOR  STATISTICS. 


It  was  naturally  to  be  inferred  that  no  further  trouble  would  occur 
on  the  Southwest  system  as  long  as  the  Railroad  Company  abided  by 
the  spirit  as  well  as  the  letter  of  the  agreement,  which  gave  to  the  em- 
ployes even  more  than  they  demanded ;  but  a  spirit  of  unrest  had  man- 
ifested itself  among  the  employes,  nearly  all  of  whom  had  joined  the 
labor  organization  known  as  "  Knights  of  Labor,"  which  organization 
had  grown  to  large  proportion  during  the  strike  of  1885,  which  em- 
braced nearly  all  railroad  employes  (excepting  locomotive  engineers, 
conductors  and  firemen),  and  also  included  nearly  all  the  trades  unions 
of  all  kinds.  Conscious  of  their  great  numbers  and  formidable  strength, 
it  became  evident  that  a  pretext  or  a  real  cause  would  soon  be  found 
for  throwing  down  the  gauntlet  and  measuring  strength  with  the  great 
railroad  corporations  of  the  west,  and  especially  with  those  controlled 
by  Jay  Gould,  who,  for  a  reason  not  altogether  explicable,  was  especi- 
ally obnoxious  to  the  Knights  of  Labor.  Being  strong  in  numbers  and 
compactly  organized,  it  became  apparent  that  the  authorized  Committee 
of  Knights  of  Labor  intended  to  undertake  the  settlement  of  all  labor 
questions,  the  aggrieved  submitting  his  case  to  his  "  Assembly  "  instead 
of  to  the  railroad  officials.  This,  therefore,  involved  a  demand  for  the 
recognition  of  the  "Knights  of  Labor"  as  suck,  by  the  corporations, 
and  is,  without  doubt,  the  true  cause  of  the  subsequent  trouble  and  pro- 
tracted struggle. 

A  convention  of  Knights  of  Labor  of  District  Assembly  No.  101 
was  held  at  St.  Louis,  commencing  January  10th,  1886,  being  composed 
of  delegates  from  all  the  Local  Assemblies  on  the  Southwest  System, 
and  it  was  during  the  sessions  of  this  convention,  as  it  has  subsequently 
transpired,  that  aggressive  measures  were  first  inaugurated.  A  resolu- 
tion was  submitted  by  the  Executive  Committee  of  District  Assembly 
No.  101,  embodying  two  propositions  as  follows  : 

"  Will  you  sustain  your  Executive  Board  in  making  the  following 
demands  : 

"First— Demand  of  the  Southwestern  Railroad  System  our  recog- 
nition as  '  Knights  of  Labor.' 

"  Second — Demand  that  unskilled  labor  be  paid  not  less  than  §1.50 
per  day  by  said  railway  system." 

The  Local  Assemblies  attached  to  District  Assembly  No.  101, 
adopted  the  foregoing  "demands"  by  a  practically  unanimous  vote.  It 
was  by  this  resolution  that  the  Executive  Committee  was  invested  with 
an  authority  which  was  construed  by  them  as  power  to  order  a  strike 
at  their  own  will.  This  constructive  power  was  not  iimnediately  exer- 
cised, and  it  is  not  asserted  that  any  "demands,"  as  set  forth  in  the 


8  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 


resolution,  were  made  upon  the  officials  of  the  Southwestern  System,, 
nor  was  any  grievance  of  any  kind  against  the  Company  presented  to  it 
prior  to  the  precipitation  of  the  strike  itself,  and  then  for  an  entirely 
different  matter  from  the  "  demands  "  cited  in  the  empowering  resolution 
above. 

The  principal  shops  of  the  Southwestern  System,  including  those 
of  the  Texas  and  Pacific,  which,  as  has  been  stated  before,  was  in  the 
hands  of  receivers  appointed  by  the  United  States  Court,  are  located 
at  St.  Louis,  Chamois,  Sedalia  and  DeSoto  in  Missouri;    Kansas  City, 
Atchison   and   Parsons   in   Kansas ;     Fort    Worth,    Marshall,    Dallasr 
Denison,  Taylor,  Galveston,  Palestine  and  Texarkana  in  Texas,  with 
smaller  repair  shops  at  various  localities.     On  the  18th  day  of  February,. 
1886,  a  man  named  C.  A.  Hall,  a  foreman  in  one  of  the  shops  in  the  car 
department  at  Marshall,  Texas,  on  the  Texas  and  Pacific  road,  was  dis- 
charged by  order  of  J.  A.  Crosby,  chief  of  that  department. 

The  receivers  of  the  Texas  and  Pacific  Railway,  soon  after  taking 
charge  of  said  railway,  received  a  communication  from  Win.  Moore, 
Chairman ;  M.  Manning,  R.  Davidge,  Geo.  Bibb,  J.  W.  Little  and  W.. 
W.  Miller  from  Marshall,  Texas,  dated  January  2d,  1886,  asking  them  to 
endorse  an  agreement,  which  was  as  follows : 

"With  a  desire  to  have  harmonious  relations  between  the  Texas 
and  Pacific  Railroad  Company  and  the  Knights  of  Labor  of  said 
road,  we  would  respectfully  request  that  the  following  agreement 
be  thus  entered  into:  1st,  That  there  be  no  reduction  in  the  rate  of 
wages  of  any  employe  of  the  road  unless  it  be  decided  by  an  arbi- 
tration committee  appointed,  the  Railroad  Company  to  appoint  three 
and  the  Knights  of  Labor  three.  2d,  That  all  rolling  stock  of  the' 
Company  be  repaired  on  its  road,  and  all  foreign  rolling  stock  in- 
jured on  this  road  be  repaired  at  the  company's  shops.  3d,  That 
no  employe  be  discharged  without  a  just  cause,  said  employe  hav- 
ing the  right  to  ask  for  an  investigation  if  he  thinks  he  was  unjustly 
discharged.  4th,  That  all  promotions,  such  as  foremen,  be  made  from 
the  ranks.  5th,  That  all  time  work,  after  the  regular  working  hours,  be 
paid  for  at  the  rate  of  one  and  one-half  time.  6th,  If  it  should  become 
necessary  to  reduce  expenses,  the  men  should  be  consulted  which  it 
shall  be — a  reduction  of  hours  or  a  reduction  of  men.  7th,  That  should 
any  matter  come  up  between  the  employes  and  the  company  it  shall  be 
decided  by  an  arbitrating  committee  of  six,  appointed,  three  from  the 
Company  and  three  from  the  Knights  of  Labor,  and  the  Company  and 
the  Knights  of  Labor  agree  to  abide  their  decision." 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR    STATISTICS.  9 


Gov.  John  C.  Brown,  one  of  the  receivers,  in  a  letter  dated  Dallas, 
Texas,  February  4th,  responded  to  the  committee,  declining  to  sign  the 
agreement  because  he  had  no  authority  to  enter  into  any  contracts  other 
than  those  directed  by  the  court.  Subsequently  he  gave  his  reasons 
more  specifically  as  follows  :  "  1st,  The  power  and  authority  conferred 
by  the  court  on  the  receivers  to  manage  and  control  the  property  would 
by  that  agreement  in  very  many  essential  and  vital  respects  be  delegated 
to  the  Knights  of  Labor,  which  the  receivers  had  no  authority  to  do.  2d, 
That  it  proposes  to  deprive  the  receivers  of  the  right  to  control  and  operate 
the  property  under  the  well  defined  rules  of  law  and  common  sense.  3d, 
It  creates  a  Board  of  Arbitration  on  all  questions  of  reduction  of  wages, 
which  would  never  agree,  and  thus  make  it  impossible  to  reduce  ex- 
penses, no  matter  what  the  financial  emergency  might  be.  4th,  It  forbids 
the  receivers  from  having  their  own  rolling  stock  or  the  rolling  stock 
of  any  other  lines,  injured  on  the  receivers'  lines,  repaired  in  other  shops. 
No  matter  how  badly  or  negligently  the  work  may  be  done  by  em- 
ployes, they  are  forbidden  to  discharge,  notwithstanding  they  may  be 
unable  to  operate  their  lines  because  their  own  employes  will  not 
make  the  necessary  repairs.  In  other  words,  the  receivers  would  have 
to  surrender  their  unquestioned  right  as  well  as  duty  to  maintain  their 
rolling  stock  to  a  standard  equal'to  the  demands  of  business.  5th,  The 
receivers  are  required  to  make  all  promotions  from  the  ranks,  regard- 
less of  the  question  of  fitness  and  merit.  6th,  Although  more  than  50 
per  cent,  of  the  employes  of  the  Texas  and  Pacific  Railway  are  not 
Knights  of  Labor,  no  method  is  proposed  for  their  protection,  nor  have 
they  reported  any  grievance  or  proposed  any  agreement  of  guarantee." 

The  first  intimation  of  trouble  was  a  telegram  dated  February  24th, 
1880,  from  J.  T.  Burnett,  member  of  the  Executive  Board  of  the  Knights 
of  Labor  at  Marshall,  to  Col.  George  Noble,  general  agent  of  the  re- 
ceivers, requesting  him  to  "go  to  Marshall  immediately  to  settle  trouble 
in  the  shops."  He  responded  that  he  had  heard  of  no  trouble  in  the 
shops  and  was  too  busy  to  go. 

Under  date  of  February  28th,  1886,  Col.  Noble  received  the  follow- 
ing message  from  Martin  Irons  : 

"  Gov.  Sheldon  referred  me  to  Dallas.  Cannot  control  matters  here 
long.  If  not  settled  by  two  o'clock,  March  1st,  1886,  must  call  out  Texas 
and  Pacific  Railroad  employes.  Answer  immediately  what  action  you. 
will  take. 

[Signed]  "MARTIN  IRONS, 

"  Chairman  Executive  Committee  K.  of.  L." 


10  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

To  this  telegram  no  response  was  sent,  Governor  Brown  giving  it 
as  his  reason  that  he  knew  of  no  trouble  in  the  shops,  and  knew  of  no 
authority  Martin  Irons  had  to  represent  the  employes. 

Without  warning  of  any  kind,  on  Monday,  at  3  o'clock,  March  1, 
1886,  the  greatest  and  most  memorable  railroad  strike  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  United  States  was  inaugurated.  At  that  hour,  at  a  precon- 
certed signal,'  the  shopmen  at  Marshall  laid  down  their  tools  and  went 
out  in  a  body.  The  shopmen  at  Fort  Worth  and  Dallas  acted  simul- 
taneously. Their  action  was  not  only  a  surprise  to  the  railroad  officials, 
but  even  most  of  the  shopmen  could  not  explain  why  they  had  been 
ordered  to  strike.  Some  claimed  that  the  strike  was  for  an  advance  of 
wages  for  unskilled  labor  to  $1.50  a  day ;  others  claimed  that  it  was  for 
a  reduction  of  hours ;  yet  it  is  nowhere  of  record  that  any  such  de- 
mands had  ever  been  made.  At  a  meeting  between  a  delegation  of 
citizens,  and  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  at  Mar- 
shall, to  hear  the  grievances  of  the  employes,  against  the  railroad  com- 
pany, Martin  Irons,  chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee,  stated,  in 
substance,  "  that  the  strike  was  not  in  the  interest  of  one  man,  but  for 
a  principal  involved  ;  that  the  contract  between  the  employes  and  the 
railroad  made  one  year  ago  had  been  violated  ;  that  the  contract  was 
that  no  man  should  be  discharged  without  due  notice  and  investiga- 
tion." 

This,  they  charged,  had  been  violated  in  the  discharge  of  foreman 
Hall.  It  was  further  charged,  that  Hall  had  been  discharged  because 
he  had  attended  a  meeting  of  the  District  Assembly  of  the  Knights  of 
Labor  the  previous  week,  although  it  was  claimed  he  had  been  granted 
permission  to  do  so  by  his  superior,  Mr.  Crosby.  Mr.  Crosby,  however, 
asserted  that  Hall  was  discharged  for  incompetency.  However  it  may 
be,  it  seems  unreasonable  that  the  Missouri  Pacific  system  should  be 
held  responsible  for  any  violation  of  an  agreement  on  the  part  of  the 
Texas  &  Pacific  railroad,  which  was  in  the  hands  of  the  authorities  of 
the  United  States  Court,  and  which  then,  as  now,  constituted  no  part 
of  Jay  Gould's  railroad  system.  Of  course  ex-Go  v.  John  C.  Brown,  one  of 
the  receivers  of  the  Texas  &  Pacific  railroad,  denied  any  violation  of 
the  agreement  of  March  15,  1885,  with  the  Missouri  Pacific,  or  any  re- 
sonsibility  for  his  road  for  the  provisions  of  a  treaty  with  the  employes 
and  officials  of  another  company. 

In  the  meantime  active  preparations  were  being  made  at  all  points, 
by  both  sides,  for  the  great  struggle  which  was  to  decide  the  mastery. 
•Orders  were  given  by  the  Texas  &  Pacific  Company  to  "receive  no  live 


BUREAU   OF^LABOR   STATISTICS.  11 

stock  or  perishable  freight  for  points  on  or  reached  by  the  Missouri 
Pacific  and  the  lines  operated  by  said  railroad." 

At  Fort  Worth,  on  the  3d  of  March,  the  following  significant  circu- 
lar was  issued : 
■"  To  Laboring  Men  of  all  Classes: 

"  Whereas,  The  Missouri  Pacific,  leased  and  operated  lines,  and  the 
Texas  &  Pacific  railway,  are  now  employing  convict  and  Chinese  labor 
on  their  different  railways  in  Texas,  to  the  detriment  of  lionest  labor  ; 
and, 

"  Whereas,  The  said  railways  are  continually  violating  their  con- 
tract of  March  15,  1885,  and  in  fact  have  never  complied  with  its 
provisions  ;  and, 

"  Whereas,  We  have  resolved  to  come  to  the  rescue  of  our  down- 
trodden brethren  known  as  '  unskilled  laborers  ;  therefore  be  it 

"  Resolved,  That  we  call  upon  all  laborers,  such  as  trackmen,  en- 
gine wipers,  coach-cleaners,  baggage  and  freight  hands,  etc.,  to  lend  us 
their  aid  in  driving  convict  and  Chinese  labor  from  our  different  roads, 
and  that  all  laborers  receive  just  and  fair  remuneration  for  their  ser- 
vices. Trackmen,  get  clear  out  of  sight  of  the  track  till  we  gain  your 
vic'ory. 

[Signed]  "  KNIGHTS  OF  LABOR." 

Officials  of  the  road  emphatically  deny  the  employment  of  convict 
labor,  and  that  only  about  one  hundred  Chinese  were  employed,  and 
they  at  a  remote  point.  Investigation  of  the  facts  sustained  their  as- 
sertion. 

The  committee  appointed  by  the  citizens  of  Marshall  on  the  3d  of 
March,  was  composed  of  Judge  W.  T.  S.  Keller,  J.  H.  Vanhook,  H.  B. 
Pitts,  E.  J.  Fry  and  W.  C.  Pierce,  who  were  to  confer  both  with  the 
Knights  of  Labor  and  the  receivers,  and  attempt  to  arbitrate  all  differ- 
ences. The  receivers  had  in  the  meantime  given  the  striking  employes 
notice  that,  if  they  did  not  resume  work  by  10  o'clock  of  the  4th  of 
March,  their  places  would  be  filled  by  new  men. 

The  shopmen  at  LongvTiew,  Texas,  quit  work  in  a  body  and  general 
preparation  for  a  strike  was  made  along  the  entire  system,  though  the 
signal  for  a  general  strike  had  not  been  given. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  citizens  of  Marshall  to  adjust  the 
difficulties  between  the  company  and  the  employes,  telegraphed  on  the 
3d  of  March  to  Gov.  John  C.  Brown,  one  of  the  receivers,  asking  for  a 
conference  with  him.     His  reply  was  as  follows : 


12  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

"  Your  message  proposing-  a  conference  to  adjust,  if  practicable, 
the  strike  now  existing,  lias  just  reached  me,  without  mentioning  time 
or  place,  but  I  do  not  understand  how  a  conference  could  be  had  be- 
fore 10  o'clock  to-morrow,  the  hour  fixed  by  the  General  Superintend- 
ent under  instructions  from  the  receivers  for  the  shopmen  to  return  or 
be  discharged.  This  order  was  made  after  careful  consideration.  We 
have  paid  the  men  promptly  the  same  wages  they  have  received  for  a 
year  past  without  a  murmur  from  them.  We  have  not  changed  the 
manner  nor  hours  of  work,  and  in  no  way,  as  we  are  aware,  have  we 
done  the  men  the  slightest  injustice.  We  have  given  every  assurance,, 
both  verbally  and  in  writing,  that  all  men  in  our  employ  should  be 
treated  with  the  greatest  fairness,  and  we  have  met  our  promises  and 
discharged  our  duty  to  them.  They  have  complained  of  no  unfair 
treatment.  Notwithstanding  this,  they  left  our  shops  without  the  slight- 
est cause,  so  far  as  we  can  ascertain.  Yet  so  anxious  were  we  to  avoid 
injustice  to  any  who  may  have  inconsiderately  acted  on  bad  advice,  that 
we  decided  that  three  days  be  given  them  to  return.  We  intend 
standing  inflexibly  by  that  order.  We  will  always  take  pleasure  in 
conferring  with  any  citizen  of  Marshall  or  any  other  community  in  the 
State  on  any  question  alone  affecting  their  own,  or  the  interests  of 
their  communities,  and  we  would  gladly  listen  to  the  advice  of  all  good 
men.  But,  after  all,  we  must  follow  the  advice  of  the  court,  under 
whose  control  the  railway  now  is,  to  whom  alone  we  can  look  and  with 
perfect  confidence,  we  know,  for  the  protection  of  the  property  with 
which  we  are  charged  as  the  agents  of  the  law. 

[Signed]  "  JOHX  C.  BRO  \YX,  Eeceiver, 

"  For  the  Receivers." 

On  the  4th  day  of  March  the  receivers  promulgated  the  follow- 
ing : 

NOTICE    TO    STRIKERS    AND    OTHERS. 

"  The  receivers  of  the  Texas  &  Pacific  Railway,  appointed  by  the 
United  States  Court  of  the  circuit  embracing  the  States  of  Texas  and 
Louisiana,  notified  all  men  in  their  employ,  who  left  work  on  Monday 
last,  or  since  that  time,  that  they  could  return  to  work  on  or  before 
Thursday,  the  4th  day  of  March,  1886,  at  10  o'clock  A.  m.,  and  such  as 
did  not  return  by  that  time  were  no  longer  in  our  employ,  and  would 
be  paid  oft'.  The  receivers  are  now  informed  that  at  Fort  Worth  and 
other  points,  men  who  did  not  avail  themselves  of  the  privilege  of  re- 
turning to  duty  and  are  not  now  their  employes,  are  congregating  about 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  13 

the  stations,  warehouses  and  other  places  of  business  of  said  railroad 
in  possession  and  under  control  of  receivers,  to  the  great  inconveni- 
ence and  annoyance  of  such  as  are  willing  to  work,  and  that  such  per- 
sons and  others  having  no  business  about  said  premises,  are  by  words, 
threats  and  other  means  trying  to  intimidate  men  who  are  willing  to  aid 
the  railway  authorities  in  performing  their  duties  as  common  carriers. 
Now,  therefore,  all  such  persons  are  notified  immediately  to  leave  the 
premises  of  said  railway  and  other  property  under  the  control  of  the 
receivers,  and  altogether  desist  from  congregating  about  the  depots, 
warehouses,  round-houses  and  other  places  of  business  of  said  railway, 
and  to  desist  from  acts  of  intimidation  of  the  men  who  are  willing  to 
work,  and  in  all  other  respects  to  cease  all  interference  of,  or  embar- 
rassment to,  said  railway  and  those  controlling  or  serving  it  in  the  prose- 
cution of  its  duties  as  common  carriers,  otherwise  the  receivers  will 
feel  compelled  to  invoke  the  aid  of  the  United  States  Court  with  all 
the  powers  at  its  command  to  protect  the  employes  of  receivers  and 
the  property  in  their  hands  and  the  proper  conduct  of  the  business  of 
said  railroad. 

[Signed]  "JOHN  C.  BROWN, 

"LIONEL  A.  SHELDON, 

"  Receivers." 

It  appears  that  Judge  Don  A.  Pardee,  of  the  United  States  Court, 
had  already  been  appealed  to  by  the  receivers,  and  on  the  same  day  of 
the  issuance  of  the  above  circular  had  made  the  following  order: 

"  It  is  ordered  that  the  receivers  are  authorized  to  suspend  the 
running  of  trains  and  transaction  of  business  upon  any  part  of  the  line 
of  the  Texas  &  Pacific  Railway,  or  in  the  shops  pertaining  to  said  rail- 
way, whenever  and  wherever  their  possession  or  control  of  the  prop- 
erty'confided  to  their  charge  is  interfered  with  by  strikers,  shopmen 
or  unlawful  assemblies  to  such  an  extent  as  to,  in  their  judgment,  make 
the  continued  movements  of  trains  or  transaction  of  business  person- 
ally dangerous  to  their  agents  and  employes,  or  to  such  an  extent  as  to 
jeopardize  the  property  given  to  their  charge,  and  in  case  of  interfer- 
ence with  the  property  in  charge  of  said  receivers,  or  interference  with 
the  agents  and  employes  of  the  receivers,  by  mobs,  strikers  or  unlaw- 
ful assemblies,  and  beyond  the  power  of  the  receivers  to  control,  the 
receivers  are  directed  to  at  once  apply  by  petition,  supported  by  affi- 
davit, to  the  judge  of  the  United  States  Circuit  Court,  for  the  district 
in  which  the  interference  occurs,  and  in  the  suit  of  the  Missouri  Pacific 
Railway  Company  vs.  Texas  &  Pacific  Railway  Company,  pending  in 


14  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 


the  Circuit  Court  of  said  district,  in  said  petition  setting  out  the  fact& 
of  interference  and  the  extent  of  the  same,  and  praying  advice,  and  an 
order  to  the  marshal  of  the  district  with  such  force  as  may  be  neces- 
sary to  at  once  restore  possession  and  control  of  all  the  property  of 
the  Texas  &  Pacific  Railroad  to  the  receivers,  and  to  protect  the  said 
railway  property,  and  arrest  and  bring  before  said  court  to  answer  for 
contempt,  any  and  all  persons  interfering  with  the  possession  of  said 
receivers,  or  in  any  unlawful  manner  hindering  or  obstructing  the  said 
receivers  in  the  control,  operation  and  management  of  said  railway 
property. 

[Signed]  "  DON  A.  PARDEE." 

New  Orleans,  La.,  March  4, 1886. 

The  Citizens'  Committee  of  Marshall  were  still  engaged  in  an  effort 
to  arbitrate  the  troubles,  and  to  that  end  submitted  a  proposition  to 
the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  that  the  men  re- 
sume work  the  next  morning  and  so  continue  pending  negotiations,  and 
that  the  Citizens'  Committee  be  furnished  with  a  written  copy  of  griev- 
ances. At  another  meeting  a  list  of  grievances  was  presented.  They 
were  that  C.  A.  Hall  be  reinstated  in  his  old  position  held  by  him  be- 
fore he  was  removed  as,  foreman  ;  that  S.  O.  Bissett,  conductor  on  the 
New  Orleans  Pacific,  be  reinstated  to  the  position  from  which  he  was 
discharged  in  December,  and  that  a  certain  bridge  gang  be  paid  the 
same  wages  as  other  bridgemen.  The  Executive  Committee  at  first 
declined  the  proposition  of  the  Citizens'  Committee  for  the  men  to  re- 
sume work  pending  negotiations,  but  subsequently  accepted  it,  where- 
upon the  following  telegram  was  sent  to  Gov.  Brown  : 

"  The  men  will  go  to  work  to-morrow  morning  if  you  will  agree  to 
confer  with  the  men  aggrieved  or  their  committee.  Will  you  grant 
this  conference  ?     If  so,  when  and  where  ? 

"W.  T.  S.  KELLER, 
"  For  Citizens'  Committee." 

The  answer  of  Gov.  Brown  was  as  follows: 

"If  the  men  who  were  in  our  service  on  Monday,  the  1st  day  of 
March,  1886,  desire  to  go  to  work  for  the  same  rate  of  pay  they  were 
then  receiving,  the  receivers  will  employ  them  at  that  rate  to-morrow, 
and  on  their  proper  appearance  at  the  places  they  left,  and  if  such  men 
have  grievances  which  arose  since  the  appointment  of  the  receivers, 
we  will  hear  them  fairly  and  'justly  at  Marshall  on  a  day  to  be  named 
by  them  after  the  grievance  is  fully  stated,  but  we  reserve  the  right  to 
redn««  force,  as  the  emergencies  of  business  may  require,  on  proper 


BUREAU    OF  LABOR   STATISTICS.  15' 

notice.  The  court  lias  authorized  the  receivers  to  close  any  shop,  or 
to  cease  operating'  the  road,  or  any  part  of  it,  whenever  they  deem  it 
wise  and  prudent,  but  we  do  not  wish  to  do  so  if  the  employes  will  co- 
operate with  us  in  the  same  spirit  of  fairness  that  we  will  deal  with 
them  on  all  questions.  It  is  proper,  also,  to  state  that  if  the  places  of 
any  men  that  have  quit  our  employment  have  since  been  filled  by  other 
men,  we  cannot  dismiss  such  men  as  came  to  our  aid  to  enable  us  to 
move  the  commerce  of  the  country  and  to  serve  the  public,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  restoring  the  original  parties  to  employment. 

[Signed]  "JOHN  C.  BEOWX,  Eeceiver, 

"  For  both  Eeceivers." 

Thereupon  the  Citizens'  Committee,  having  exhausted  its  efforts, 
sent  the  following  telegram : 

"  Marshall,  Texas,  March  4, 1886. 
"  Governor  Brown  : 

"  The  men  refuse  to  comply  with  your  telegram  on  account  of  the 
conditions  therein.  We  have  earnestly  striven,  as  disinterested  par- 
ties, to  aid  in  adjusting  the  difficulties  between  the  company  and  its 
employes,  but  we  feel  that  we  have  failed  and  herewith  discontinue 
our  services. 

"  W.  T.  S.  KELLER, 
"  Chairman  Citizens'  Committee." 

To  this  telegram  Governor  Brown  promptly  responded  : 

"I  regret  you  have  not  succeeded,  but  am  obliged  for  your  earnest 
efforts.  We  must  have  the  right  to  run  the  road  and  its  shops  under 
the  order  of  the  court,  or  it  will  be  closed.  When  we  pay  for  service 
a  higher  price  than  is  paid  by  any  other  industry,  we  must  be  permitted 
to  judge  for  ourselves  its  fitness  for  the  duty  required,  or  we  cannot 
keep  the  property  in  such  condition  as  will  enable  us  to  meet  the  pub- 
lic demands. 

[Signed]  "JOHX  C.BEOWN." 

Thus  far  there  had  been  no  violent  demonstrations,  except  at  Big 
Springs,  Texas,  where  about  one  hundred  masked  men  raided  the 
round-house  and  disabled  several  engines  by  removing  and  secreting 
parts  of  the  machinery. 

The  signal  for  a  general  strike  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  on  the 
Southwest  system  was  given  ^y  Martin  Irons,  Chairman  of  the  Ex- 
ecutive Committee  of  District  Assembly  Xo.  101,  and  was  communi- 


36  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 


cated  to  all  local  assemblies  on  the  Gould  lines,  and  on  Saturday  morn- 
ing, March  6,1886,  five  thousand  men  laid  down  their  tools  and  marched 
out  of  the  shops,  and  all  traffic  on  six  thousand  miles  of  railroad  was 
suddenly  suspended  and  the  commerce  of  five  states  paralyzed. 

In  its  earlier  stages  the  strike  was  characterized  by  little  violence, 
the  only  injury  done  being  the  "killing"  of  freight  engines,  which 
process  consisted  of  drawing  the  fires  and  emptying  the  engines  of 
water.  A  strike  of  such  magnitude  necessarily  affected  the  commer- 
cial interests  of  the  entire  country,  and  especially  of  those  States  and 
Territories  west  of  the  Mississippi  Eiver,  and  therefore  speedily  became 
a  matter  of  National  concern.  It  was  argued  by  the  Knights  of  Labor 
that  the  cause  of  one  brother  is  the  concern  of  all ;  while  on  the  part 
of  the  business  public,  who  were  to  suffer  most,  it  was  urged  that  no 
mere  sentimentality  should  be  used  to  prostrate  business  and  injure 
the  innocent.  Thus,  unlike  the  strike  of  March,  1885,  in  this  strike  of 
1886  there  was  but  a  modicum  of  public  sympathy  with  the  strikers, 
and  even  this  almost  entirely  disappeared  later  on,  when  violence  and 
the  destruction  of  property  became  its  potent  accessories. 

In  the  light  of  subsequent  events,  it  became  a  question  in  the  internal 
affairs  of  the  order  of  Knights  of  Labor  whether  a  subordinate  body 
had  authority  to  order  a  strike  without  first  obtaining  permission  of 
the  National  Executive   Committee. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  strike  the  following  correspondence  was 
had : 

"New  York,  March  6, 1886. 
*"T.  V.  Powderly,  Scranton,  Pa.: 

"  Mr.  Hoxie  telegraphs  that  Knights  of  Labor  on  our  road  have 
struck  and  refuse  to  allow  any  freight  trains  to  be  run  on  our  road,  say- 
ing they  have  no  grievances,  but  are  only  striking  because  ordered  to  do 
so.  If  there  is  any  grievance  we  would  like  to  talk  it  over  with  you. 
We  understood  you  to  promise  that  no  strike  should  be  ordered  with- 
out consultation. 

[Signed]  "A.L.HOPKINS." 

"  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  March  8,  1886. 
•"A.  L.  Hopkins,  New  York: 

"  Have  telegraphed  West  for  particulars.  Papers  say  strike  caused 
by  discharge  of  man  named  Hall.  Can  he  not  be  reinstated  pending 
vestigation  ? 

[Signed]  "  T.  V.  POWDERLY." 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR    STATISTICS.  17 


"  Xew  York,  March  8,  1886. 

"  T.  V.  POWDERLY  : 

"  Thanks  for  your  message  and  suggestion.  Hall  was  employed  by 
the  Texas  &  Pacific  and  not  by  us.  That  property  is  in  the  hands  of 
the  United  States  Court,  and  we  have  no  control  whatever  over  the 
receivers  or  their  employes.  We  have  carried  out  the  agreement  made 
last  spring,  in  every  respect,  and  the  present  strike  is  unjust  to  us  and 
unwise  for  you.  It  is  reported  here  that  this  movement  is  the  result 
of  Wall  street  influence  on  the  part  of  those  short  of  the  securities 
likely  to  be  affected. 

[Signed]  "  A.  L.  HOPKIXS." 

On  March  8,  1886,  the  following  address  to  employes  was  issued : 

"The  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company, 
Executive  Department, 

St.  Louis,  March  8,  1886. 

-"  To  the  Employes  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company,  Leased  and 
Operated  Lines: 

"  That  all  may  understand  the  present  condition  of  affairs  whereby 
some  10,000  men  have  been  thrown  out  of  employment,  the  operation 
of  about  5,000.  miles  of  railway  stopped  and  the  traffic  of  four  States, 
affecting  over  1,000,000  people,  partially  paralyzed,  I  desire  you  to  read 
and  carefully  consider  the  following  facts,  for  which  abundant  evidence 
can  be  produced,  and  which  cannot  be  controverted :  On  the  loth  of 
March,  1885,  the  strike  then  pending  over  this  entire  system  was  settled 
by  the  voluntary  mediation  of  the  Executives  of  Kansas  and  Missouri, 
and  a  circular  issued  which  was  sufficiently  satisfactory  to  cause  an  en- 
tire resumption  of  work.  During  the  sixty  days  subsequent  to  the 
above  date,  committees  representing  the  employes  at  different  points, 
and  also  the  various  labor  organizations  to  which  they  belonged,  were 
met  and  all  grievances  candidly  discussed.  Satisfactory  agreements 
were  then  entered  into,  so  that  on  May  19,  1885,  it  seemed  that  perfect 
harmony  existed  between  us  all  as  co-laborers  of  these  companies. 
Any  infractions  of  the  spirit  or  letter  of  the  understandings  or  agree- 
ments made  between  the  company  and  its  employes  were  speedily  rec- 
tified as  soon  as  brought  to  the  attention  of  proper  authorities.  This 
apparent  harmony  and  good  understanding  continued  until  September 
following,  when  this  company  was  notified  by  the  Knights  of  Labor  that 
it  must  not  perform  any  work  for  nor  interchange  any  business  with  the 
Wabash  Railway,  with  which  that  organization  had  difficulties  pending. 

l  s— 2. 


18  BUREAU   OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

The  Executive  Committee  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  stated  at  that  time 
that  no  cause  of  grievance  of  any  nature  existed  against  The  Missouri 
Pacific   Railway  and  its   associate    companies,   but  that  to  force  the 
Wabash,  which  was  in  the  hands  of  the  United  States  court,  it  became 
necessary  to  involve  the  Missouri  Pacific  Eailway  on  account  of  the 
supposed  identity  of  the  stockholders'  interests.     In  order  that  there 
might  be  no  possible  cause  for  destroying  the  good  feeling  then  exist- 
ing between  this  company  and  its  employes,  the  order  above  referred 
to  was  acquiesced  in,  until  the  Wabash  difficulties  were  adjusted.     On 
December  16,  1885,  the  United  States  Court  took  possession  of  the 
Texas  and  Pacific  Railway  in  Louisiana  and  Texas  for  the  benefit  of  its 
creditors,  and  from  that  date  the  severance  of  that  railway  from  this 
system  has  be§n  as  complete  as  if  no  amicable  relations  had  ever  ex- 
isted between  it  and  these  companies.     The  employes  working  upon  the 
Texas  and  Pacific  Railway  became  the  employes  of  the  agents  of  the 
United  States  court,  and  the  Missouri  Pacific  management  ceased  to 
have  any  control  over  them.     Messrs.  Brown  and  Sheldon,  the  receivers, 
took  possession  of  the  Texas  and  Pacific  Railway,  appointed  their  own 
agents  and  made  such  arrangements  with  their  employes  as  they  deemed 
proper  and  fit,  as  to  which  the  management  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Rail- 
way exercised  no  voice  or  control  whatever.     It  is  learned  that  on  March 
the  2d  hist.,  the  employes  of  the  Texas  and  Pacific  Railway  inaugurated  a 
strike,  giving  as  the  reason  that  one  C.  A.  Hall,  of  the  car  department 
of  that  road  in  Marshall,  Texas,  was  discharged  without  due  cause.     On 
Thursday,  the  4th  inst.,  the  Knights  of  Labor  ordered  the  boycott  of 
Texas  and  Pacific  cars,  and  traffic  over  these  roads,  and  such  arrange- 
ments were  thereupon  made  as  not  to  permit  that  order  to  disturb 
the  apparently  pleasant  relations  with  our  employes.     At  10  A.  m.,  Sat- 
urday, the  6th  inst.,  without  previous  notice,  all  of  the  shopmen,  most  of 
the  yardmen  and  many  of  the  trackmen  stopped  their  work  and  volun- 
tarily refused  to  continue  as  employes  of  this  company,  merely  stating 
to  their  several  foremen  that  they  had  received  orders  requiring  this 
from  the  executive  officers  of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  and  alleging  as  their 
only  reason,  the  discharge  of  an  employe  by  the  receivers  of  the  Texas 
and  Pacific  Railway,  an  alien  road  in  the  hands  of  the  United  States 
Court.      Since  the  commencement  of  this  strike,  at  many  points  the 
local  committees  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  have  notified  our  foremen  and 
superintendents  that  they  would  appoint  and  place  their  own  watchmen 
over  our  property  to  protect  it  from  loss  aud  damage,  and  to  take  care 
of  the  same;  but  as  these  self-appointed  watchmen  assume  the  author- 
ity as  to  who  shall  or  shall  not  enter  upon  the  grounds  and  property  of 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  19 

the  company,  except  through  their  own  order,  it  is  virtually  dispossess- 
ing the  company  of  its  property,  and  contrary  to  the  very  basis  of  all 
governments. 

"  This  company  has  for  years  had  satisfactory  understandings  and 
agreements  with  certain  labor  organizations,  which  have,  in  every  in- 
stance, complied  with  their  promises,  and  it  has  always  been  the  object 
and  aim  of  the  management  to  comply  fully  with  both  spirit  and  letter 
of  all  such  understandings  and  agreements. 

"  I  would  call  your  attention  to  the  following  conclusions  from  the 
above  history  of  the  past  year: 

"This  company  has  made  no  objections  to  the  existence  of  organi- 
zations and  combinations  of  employes,  which  the  latter  consider  for 
their  mutual  benefit.  It  has  recognized  and  met  the  committees  of 
such  organizations,  and  made  agreements  with  the  same  without  any 
distinction,  and  carried  them  out  as  exactly  as  possible,  promptly  ad- 
justing all  complaints  and  differences  which  have  from  time  to  time 
arisen. 

"When  loyal  employes  permit  themselves  to  be  governed  and  con- 
trolled by  their  discontented  co-laborers,  they  necessarily  suffer 
equally  with  them  the  consequences  of  ill-advised  acts  ;  therefore  the 
necessity  of  their  individual  efforts  to  restore  the  proper  relations 
between  the  company  and  its  employes. 

"It  must  be  well  known  and  recognized  that  the  capacity  of  a  cor- 
poration to  meet  its  pay-rolls  and  vouchers  depends  upon  its  capacity 
to  earn  money,  and  that  when  its  earning  powers  cease,  its  ability  to 
pay  the  employes  and  its  other  creditors  ceases  at  the  same  time,  as  its 
daily  and  monthly  payments  are  made  from  its  daily  and  monthly 
receipts. 

"  The  company  is  legally  required  to  do  all  in  its  power  to  perform 
its  obligations  to  the  public  and  to  the  government,  and  its  manage- 
ment will  take  every  proper  measure  to  comply  with  these  require- 
ments; and  I  earnestly  hope  that  every  independent,  free-thinking  co- 
laborer  who  has  been,  or  is,  an  emplo'ye  of  these  companies,  will  con- 
sider these  facts  and  inform  himself  upon  all  sides  of  the  subject,  re- 
membering that  there  has  never  before  been  an  act  so  arbitrary,  use- 
less and  uncalled  for  as  that  of  last  Saturday,  whereby  a  few  men,  to 
whom  you  have  voluntarily  given  the  power,  are  depriving  many  thou- 
sands of  their  co-laborers  of  their  accustomed  wages,  divesting  this 
company  of  the  capacity  to  pay  its  employes  for  their  services,  shut- 
ting up  the  avenues  of  traffic  in  four  States  and  preventing  some 
4,000,000  of  people  from  obtaining  their  customary  supplies  and  the 


20  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

necessities  of  life  because  it  is  claimed  that  one  employe  of  the  car 
department  of  the  Texas  &  Pacific  Railway,  at  Marshall,  Texas,  a  road 
over  which  this  company  has  no  control,  has  been  discharged  by  the 
agents  of  the  United  States  Court. 

"H.  M.  HOXIE, 

"  First  Vice-President." 

This  was  followed  by  the  following-  circular: 

"The  Missouri  Pacific  Railway,  Company. 
Office  of  General  Superintendent. 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  March  9, 1886. 

CIRCULAR. 

"  To  all  who  were  in  the  employ  of  this  Company,  and  who  have  quit  work 
since  March  5,  1886  : 

"  You  are  hereby  notified  that  your  action,  as  stated  above,  was  a 
voluntary  abandonment  of  the  service  of  this  company,  that  you  are 
no  longer  in  its  employment,  your  names  having  been  stricken  from 
the  rolls.  All  such  who  are  now  on  or  about  the  company's  premises 
are  hereby  notified  that  they  must  immediately  leave  the  same,  to  the 
end  that  this  company  may  resume  the  traffic  of  the  country. 

"  WM.  KERRIGAN, 

"  General  Superintendent." 

On  May  25,  1885,  as  supplementary  to  the  agreement  effected  by 
the  State  officials  of  Missouri  and  Kansas  in  March,  1885,  an  agree- 
ment in  the  form  of  a  letter  was  made  by  Vice-President  Hoxie  to  Mr. 
Fitzsimmons,  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  employes 
of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad  at  the  Sedalia  shops,  which  now  be- 
comes important  in  view  of  the  fact  that  as  the  great  strike  of  1886, 
which  we  are  now  considering,  assumed  proportions,  many  Knights  of 
Labor  gave  as  a  technical  reason  for  their  present  action  the  construc- 
tive violation  of  this  supplemental  agreement.  For  this  reason  we 
here  reproduce  this  agreement : 

"  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  May  25,  1885. 
"To  F.  W.  Fitzsimmons,  Sedalia,  Mo.: 

"According  to  promise  made  you  on  Saturday,  I  advise  that  we 
will  strictly  enforce  the  provisions  of  the  circular  of  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent Hayes,  dated  March  15,  1885.  In  the  shops,  and  wherever  else  it 
may  be  practicable,  we  will  reduce  the  hours  of  work  instead  of  reduc- 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  21 


ing  the  force,  whenever  the  necessity  arrives  ;  that  whenver  an  employe 
believes  that  he  has  been  unjustly  discharged  he  may  make  a  statement 
of  his  case,  in  writing,  to  the  Superintendent  of  the  road  on  which 
he  has  worked,  who  will  promptly  investigate  and  reinstate  if  wrong- 
fully discharged.  It  is  believed  that  the  interests  of  the  company  and 
employes  are  identical,  and  the  management  earnestly  desires  the 
hearty  co-operation  of  all  its  employes  in  the  efficient  and  economical 
administration  of  the  properties  under  its  charge,  to  the  end  that  the 
fullest  development  of  their  capabilities  may  be  brought  about  and  work 
may  be  given  to  all  under  conditions  in  every  way  satisfactory. 
[Signed]  "H.  M.  HOXIE, 

"  Third  Vice-President." 

On  the  8th  of  March,  1886,  the  strike  became  general  throughout 
the  entire  system,  and  in  many  places  included  not  only  the  shopmen 
but  trackmen,  switchmen,  wipers  and  other  employes,  and  all  freight 
traffic  came  to  an  absolute  stand  still.  It  is  estimated  that  9,000  men 
had  quit  work  exclusive  of  those  who  were  "laid  off"  in  consequence 
of  there  being  no  work  for  them  to  do. 

The  strikers  having  been  discharged  from  the  Missouri  Pacific 
Eailroad  shops  by  the  order  of  Mr.  Kerrigan,  General  Superintendent, 
and  the  self-constituted  guards  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  removed,  the 
shops  were  placed  in  charge  of  a  force  of  detectives  under  Mr.  Thomas 
Furlong,  whereupon  the  following  notice  was  posted  at  St.  Louis  and 
mailed  to  all  points  on  the  system  : 

u  Wanted. — The  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company  is  prepared  to 
furnish  employment  to  a  number  of  machinists,  carpenters,  car-repairers, 
car-cleaners,  engine-wipers,  yardmen,  switchmen,  trackmen  and  laborers 
in  its  shops  and  yards  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  other  stations  on  its  lines. 

"Good  and  competent  men  will  be  employed  for  the  services  above 
specified,  without  reference  to  their  past  or  present  relations  to  this 
company,  or  their  connection  with  any  society  or  organization,  open, 
secret,  secular  or  otherwise.  Such  as  are  accepted  will  be  paid  the 
rate  of  wages  recommended  by  the  Governors  and  other  State  officials 
of  Missouri  and  Kansas,  when  the  labor  troubles  of  March,  1885,  were 
adjusted,  the  same  as  have  been  paid  by  this  company  since  that  date. 

"Apply  to  E.  K.  Sibley,  Superintendent  Missouri  Pacific  Railway, 
Sedalia,  Mo.;  H.  G.  Fleming,  Superintendent  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain 
and  Southern  Railway,  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  A.  W.  Dickenson,  Superinten- 
dent Terminal  Facilities,  Union  Depot;  John  Hodge,  Master  Car- 
builder,  Missouri    Pacific  shops;   L.  Bartlett,  Master  Mechanic,  Mis- 


22  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

souri  Pacific  shops,  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  J.  Herein,  Superintendent,  Palestine, 
Texas;  C.  Clarke,  Master  Mechanic,  Denison,  Tex.;  W.  W.  Fagan, 
Superintendent,  Atchison,  Kan.,  or  to  the  undersigned. 

"WM.  KERRIGAN, 
"  General  Superintendent." 

Martin  Irons,  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  District 
Assembly  No.  101,  who  was  the  leading  spirit  of  the  strike,  and  whose 
influence  appeared  to  dominate  the  entire  order  throughout  the  West, 
having  returned  to  Sedalia,  Mo.,  on  the  10th  of  March,  added  to  the 
considerable  number  of  authorized  statements  of  grievances  and  de- 
mands, the  following,  which  was  forwarded  to  Vice-President  Hoxie : 

"  In  order  that  the  people  may  understand  why  the  present  strike 
is  in  existence  on  the  Gould  Southwest  System,  and  in  order  to  show 
to  the  public  the  falsity  of  the  circular  issued  from  the  executive  depart- 
ment of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Eailway,  addressed  to  the  employes  of 
said  road  but  in  reality  intended  for  the  public  for  the  purpose  of  elicit- 
ing public  sympathy,  we  consider  the  circular  too  insignificant  to 
reply  to  in  detail.  It  is  indeed  surprising  that  railroad  magnates,  who 
have  so  long  insulted  the  people  with  the  epithet  '  be  damned '  will 
come  down  on  their  knees  and  cater  to  them  for  sympathy. 

"  The  settlement  of  the  strike  of  March,  1885,  in  which  we  had  no 
voice,  but  which  we  accepted  in  good  faith,  and  which  has  been  kept 
inviolate  by  us,  has  been  repeatedly  violated  by  the  company,  viz. :  by 
not  restoring  to  all  the  employes  the  wages  paid  prior  to  September, 
1884,  in  several  places  on  the  Texas  and  Pacific  Railroad,  as  well  as  on 
the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad  and  its  branches  and  by  the  discharge  of 
employes  contrary  to  the  spirit  and  intent  of  the  settlement. 

"  Now  it  is  the  belief  of  every  Knight  of  Labor  on  the  system  that 
the  companies  therein  mentioned  have  inaugurated  a  systematic  method 
for  the  purpose  of  breaking  up  the  organization  of  the  Knights  of  Labor 
on  the  system,  and  that  the  placing  of  the  Texas  and  Pacific  in  the 
hands  of  a  receiver  and  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States 
court  is  the  main  feature  of  their  scheme,  and  in  order  to  meet  and  de- 
feat these  contemptible  and  blood-sucking  corporations  and  their  gov- 
ernmental allies,  and  in  order  to  secure  redress  for  the  foregoing  griev- 
ances, and  the  following  demands,  we  have  inaugurated  this  strike. 

"In  order  to  bring  about  a  speedy  adjustment  of  the  difficulties 
now  existing  between  the  management  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway 
Company,  leased  and  operated  lines,  and  the  Texas  and  Pacific  Railway 
Company  and  all  its  branches  and  their  employes,  the  District  Executive 


BUKEAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  23 

Board  of  District  Assembly  No.  101,  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  of  Amer- 
ica, submits  the  following  basis  of  settlement  to  the  management  of  the 
aforesaid  roads : 

"  First. — A  conference  to  be  arranged  with  the  management  of  the 
aforesaid  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company,  leased  and  operated  lines, 
and  the  Texas  and  Pacific  Railroad  and  all  its  branches,  as  party  of  the 
first  part,  and  the  District  Executive  Board  of  District  Assembly  No. 
101  as  party  of  the  second  part,  for  the  purpose  of  settling  the  follow- 
ing grievances  by  arbitration : 

"First. — That  all  unskilled  labor  employed  by  the  roads  previously 
mentioned,  now  receiving  less  than  $1.50  per  day,  be  paid  at  the  rate 
of  $1.50  per  day,  the  above  to  include  all  section  laborers,  trackmen 
and  crossing  switchmen. 

"  Second. — The  abolishment  of  convict  labor  on  the  above  named 
roads,  and  that  convicts  now  employed  on  the  Missouri  Pacific,  leased 
and  operated  lines,  and  Texas  and  Pacific  Railway  and  all  its  branches, 
be  immediately  discharged. 

"Third — That  the  rate  of  pay  of  all  bridgemen  be  restored  to  the 
rates  of  September,  1884,  viz. :  in  a  gang  of  ten  men,  two  at  $2.75,  four 
men  at  $2.50,  two  men  at  $2.25  and  two  men  at  $2.00. 

"Fourth. — That  all  home  repair  men  be  rated  as  bridgemen. 

"  Fifth. — That  all  boarding  bosses  for  bridge  gangs  shall  be  entitled 
to  half  rates  of  freight  on  all  supplies  for  the  use  of  bridge  outfits. 
That  when  outfit  cars  are  moved  at  night  or  on  Sunday,  bridgemen 
shall  be  allowed  one  and  one-half  time  while  being  so  moved. 

"  Seventh. — That  where  bridgemen  are  compelled  to  work  in  water 
at  wash-outs,  etc.,  they  shall  be  allowed  double  time  while  so  engaged. 

"Eighth. — That  when  bridgemen  are  detached  from  their  gangs 
on  special  service  they  shall  be  allowed  time  and  half  time  while  travel- 
ing at  night,  and  straight  time  for  all  other  time  until  they  return  to 
their  respective  gangs. 

"Ninth. — That  bridgemen  having  families  shall  be  permitted  to 
travel  on  their  gang  passes  to  and  from  their  homes  for  the  purpose  of 
visiting  their  families  at  least  twice  per  month. 

"  Tenth. — That  a  system  be  astablished  for  the  government  of  the 
employes  and  wages  of  apprentices  on  the  Gould  Southwest  System  of 
railroads  as  follows :  That  four  years  constitute  an  apprenticeship,  and 
that  the  scale  of  wages  be  fixed  as  follows :  For  the  first  year  $1.00 
per  day,  for  the  second  year  $1.25  per  day,  for  the  third  year  $1.75  per 
day,  and  for  the  fourth  and  last  year '$2.25  per  day,  and  at  the  expira- 
tion of  their  term  of  apprenticeship  they  are  to  receive  the  average 


21  BUREAU    OF  LABOR   STATISTICS. 

journeymen's  wages  of  the  department  to  which  they  belong,  and  that 
no  boys  under  the  age  of  seventeen  years  be  admitted  as  apprentices 
in  any  department  of  the  above  mentioned  roads,  and  that  in  each  case 
articles  of  agreement  shall  be  signed  by  the  representative  of  the  rail- 
road company  of  the  first  part,  and  the  legal  representative  of  the  ap- 
plicant for  the  apprenticeship  of  the  second  part;  and  that  in  no  case 
shall  the  ratio  of  apprentices  be  more  than  one  to  every  eight  mechanics,, 
and  that  no  more  apprentices  be  employed  until  the  number  is  reduced 
to  the  above  mentioned  ratio. 

"  Eleventh. — In  view  of  the  fact  that  considerable  dissatisfaction  and 
trouble  have  arisen  on  account  of  the  discharge  of  employes  without  cause 
first  being  made  known,  therefore  we  demand  that,  when  any  employes, 
who  are  Knights  of  Labor,  do  not  give  satisfaction  in  the  capacity  in 
which  they  are  engaged,  it  shall  be  made  known  to  them  in  writing, 
that  they  may  defend  themselves  in  the  following  manner  :  The  accused 
party  to  select  two  persons  to  assist  in  conducting  the  defense,  and  the 
officers  of  the  company  in  immediate  charge  of  the  department  in 
which  the  accused  is  employed  be  allowed  to  select  two  persons  to  as- 
sist in  conducting  the  prosecution  ;  and  that  the  accused  be  tried  be- 
fore three  disinterested  parties,  to  be  selected  in  the  following  manner : 
The  parties  assisting  in  the  defense  to  select  one,  and  the  parties  assist- 
ing in  the  prosecution  one,  and  the  two  thus  selected  choose  the  third. 
The  accused  must  be  allowed  to  remain  at  work  until  the  charges  are 
either  disproved  or  substantiated. 

"  Twelfth. — We  demand  that  all  men  be  paid  the  same  wages  for  the 
same  work — in  other  words,  that  when  a  man  quits  or  is  taken  off  a 
job  that  pays  a  certain  price,  that  his  successor  receive  the  same  rate 
of  pay. 

"Thirteenth. —  We  further  demand  that  all  men  who  have  been 
unjustly  discharged  from  any  of  the  aforesaid  roads,  be  immediately  re- 
instated in  their  respective  positions  at  the  conclusion  of  the  existing 

difficulties. 

"  Respectfully  submitted, 

"  PH.  MARTIN  IRONS, 

"  Chairman  Executive  Board,  District  Assembly  101,  Knights  of  Labor.7' 

"  It  will  be  observed  from  an  examination  of  the  foregoing  docu- 
ment that  Mr.  Irons  largely  exceeds  his  brethren  in  the  nature  of  the 
grievances,  and  the  number  and  character  of  the  demand:.  lie  refers 
to  the  employment  of  convict  labor.  This  is  stoutly  denied  by  the  rail- 
way officials,  and  a  careful  investigation  into  the  facts  fails  to  confirm. 
Mr.  Irons'  charge. 


BUEEAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  25 

Efforts  were  being  made  to  induce  the  conductors,  engineers  and 
firemen  to  join  the  strike,  but  this  proved  a  failure,  and  no  instance  ap- 
pears where  they  abandoned  their  posts. 

In  the  meantime  engines  were  being  killed  as  they  arrived  or  at- 
tempted to  depart  from  all  prominent  stations,  and  at  Big  Springs,  Texas, 
where  the  round-house  was  broken  into  and  engines  disabled,  a  force 
of  Deputy  United  States  marshals  had  been  sent  to  restore  order.  No 
acts  of  personal  violence  were  resorted  to  except  at  Fort  Worth,  Tex., 
on  the  10th  of  March,  where  one  man,  who  belonged  to  a  force  of  men 
imported  to  take  the  places  abandoned  by  the  strikers,  was  assaulted 
and  badly  beaten  by  the  latter. 

Thus,  early  in  the  strike,  so  completely  was  all  traffic  suspended, 
the  discharge,  temporarily,  of  a  large  .number  of  office  clerks,  station 
agents,  etc.,  became  a  necessity. 

Eepeated  efforts  were  made  to  move  freight  trains  at  St.  Louis  and 
other  points,  but  a  species  of  argument  was  invariably  resorted  to  by 
the  strikers  which  amounted  to  scarcely  less  than  intimidation,  whereby 
the  engineers  and  firemen  were  induced  to  abandon  their  engines. 
Whenever  a  train  was  made  up,  and  the  engineer  and  fireman  were 
ready  to  start  their  train,  they  were  approached  by  one  or  more  men, 
who  would  present  either  a  written  or  verbal  request  for  them  not  to 
take  out  the  train.  Sometimes  the  language  was  emphatic,  and  some- 
times contained  an  appeal  such  as  "for  the  sake  of  yourself  and  family 
do  not  attempt  to  take  out  that  engine.'.'  Sometimes  again  these  notes 
of  warning  were  left  at  engineers'  houses  or  sent  to  them  through  the 
mails,  but  were  always  of  a  character  that  was  significant  of  danger  to 
the  engineer  or  fireman.  These  notices  invariably  had  the  desired  ef- 
fect and  the  engine  was  returned  to  its  stall  in  the  round-house. 

Matters  were  now  rapidly  growing  from  bad  to  worse.  Lawless- 
ness began  to  manifest  itself.  Not  only  were  engines  boldly  boarded 
and  "killed,"  but  at  DeSoto,  Mo.,  on  the  Iron  Mountain  Road,  the 
Knights  of  Labor,  some  six  hundred  strong,  marched  to  the  round- 
house, forced  it  open,  and  drew  the  water  from  all  the  boilers.  At 
Kansas  City,  Atchison  and  Parsons,  Kan.,  and  Sedalia,  Pacific,  Hanni- 
bal and  other  points  in  Missouri,  a  similar  condition  of  affairs  existed. 
At  some  points,  notably  at  Pacific  and  DeSoto,  Missouri,  where  the 
civil  authorities  were  members  of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  they  either 
could  not  or  would  not  inforce  the  law  against  unlawful  assemblages 
and  riotous  conduct.  The  people  began  to  be  seriously  alarmed.  Not 
only  was  their  business  being  ruined,  but  society  itself  was  menaced 
and  civil  law  openly  defied.     This  feeling  of  alarm  can  best  be  illus- 


26  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

trated  by  a  series  of  resolutions  adopted  by  a  large  meeting  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Sedalia  on  the  night  of  the  11th  of  March.  They  are  as  follows : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  citizens  of  Sedalia  deplore  the  condition  of 
affairs  brought  about  by  the  present  strike  of  a  portion  of  the  railway 
employes  as  productive  of  the  greatest  injury  to  the  interest  and  gen- 
eral welfare  of  our  city  and  of  citizens,  whether  or  not  in  anyway  con- 
nected with  the  railways.  We  believe  that  if  any  grievances  exist  on 
the  part  of  employes  against  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company 
that  such  matters  could  and  should  have  been  settled  as  heretofore,  by 
an  appeal  to  the  chief  officers  of  the  company,  or  by  arbitration,  or  at 
least  that  an  effort  should  have  been  made  in  that  direction  before  in- 
augurating a  strike,  the  disastrous  consequences  of  which  cannot  be 
foreseen,  but  which  can  scarcely  be  exaggerated. 

"  We  do  not  understand  that  any  grievance  has  been  laid  before 
the  railway  company,  and  from  all  information  which  has  reached  the 
public  ear,  we  are  unable  to  see  any  just  cause  for  the  present  strike. 
To  the  striking  employes  we  would  appeal  to  put  an  end  to  this  condi- 
tion of  things.  Many  of  them  have  been  laboring  with  us  shoulder  to 
shoulder  for  twenty  years,  striving  to  build  this  heretofore  properous 
city,  in  which  we,  as  well  as  they,  have  invested  our  all,  putting  our 
money  into  its  real  estate,  incurring  heavy  debts  to  build  on  and  im- 
prove property,  and  so  combine  our  aims  and  interests  that  the  injury 
to  one  is  the  concern  of  all. 

"  We  appeal  to  both  parties  of  this  unfortunate  controversy,  both 
•  of  whom  we  are  forced  to  regard  more  or  less  in  the  light  of  ruling- 
powers  to  whom  we  are  subject,  but  to  whom  we  are  not  quite  ready 
to  surrender  our  rights,  to  make  an  effort  to  a  settlement.  We  believe 
that  much  of  the  present  difficulty  is  due  to  the  ill-advised  utterances 
of  a  few  individuals  who  seek  to  turn  the  necessities  and  desires  of  in- 
dustrious men  to  their  personal  profits. 

"  The  condition  of  affairs  here,  and  the  feelings  and  wishes  of  our 
people  have  been  misrepresented  in  reports  telegraphed  all  over  the 
land.  While  denying  no  just  rights  to  any  one,  we  think  that  the  peo- 
ple of  Sedalia  who  are  not  employes  or  railway  officers  have  some 
rights,  which  they  are  entitled  to  have  respected.  If  our  trade  and 
commerce  are  to  be  broken  up  every  year  by  these  disturbances,  can 
we  expect  strangers  to  settle  among  us,  bringing  with  them  their  capi- 
tal, their  industry  ,  their  families  and  their  household  goods,  and  make 
their  homes  with  us u? 

k>  ^Ve  wish  the  country  to  understand  that  the  people  of  Sedalia 
are  not  anarchists  and  dynamiters,  among  whom  life  is  unsafe,  but  law- 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  27 

tbiding  American  citizens,  who  invite  among  them  capital  and  indus- 
,ry,  and  will  protect  them.  The  mass  of  the  people  of  Sedalia  are 
leither  capitalists  nor  Knights  of  Labor,  and  they  do  not  propose  to 
)e  tyrannized  over  by  either  without  urgent  protest." 

Thus  far  in  the  great  drama  that  was  being  enacted  in  Missouri, 
Kansas  and  Texas,  Mr.  T.  V.  Powderly,  Grand  Master  Workman  of  the 
Knights  of  Labor,  had  not  made  his  appearance.  But  on  the  11th  of 
March  he  telegraphed  Receiver  Brown  as  follows : 

"  Philadelphia,  March  11,  1886. 
''  To  John  C.  Brown,  Receiver  of  the  Texas  &  Pacific  Railway,  Dallas, 

Texas  : 

"  Will  you  meet  with  a  committee  selected  by  the  General  Execu- 
ive  Board  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  to  arbitrate  for  the  settlement  of 
;he  difficulties  with  the  Texas  &  Pacific  employes  % 

[Signed]  "T.  V.  POWDERLY." 

To  this  Governor  Brown  replied: 

"  Dallas,  Texas,  March  11. 
''  To  T.  V.  Powderly,  Philadelphia  : 

"  Your  message  received  asking  me  if  I  will  meet  a  committee  se- 
ected  by  the  General  Executive  Board  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  to  ar- 
)itrate  for  the  settlement  of  difficulties  with  the  Texas  &  Pacific  em- 
ployes. I  beg  to  say  that  we  have  no  difficulties  with  the  employes  of 
he  Texas  &  Pacific  Railway,  and  should  any  arise,  we  are  most  willing 
iow,  as  in  the  past,  to  confer  with  them  and  right  any  grievances  shown 
jy  them  to  exist.  The  only  issue  between  the  former  employes,  who 
ire  now  strikers  and  not  now  in  our  service,  and  ourselves,  is  that  they 
lave  committed  depredations  upon  the  property  in  our  possession  by 
lisabling  and  killing  engines  and  interfering,  by  intimidation  and  other- 
wise, with  meritorious  and  honest  men  now  in  our  service,  desiring  to 
perform  the  duties  abandoned  by  the  strikers.  This  matter  we  have 
'emitted  to  the  United  States  marshals,  and  the  United  States  mar- 
shals, under  writs  of  assistance  from  the  courts,  are  settling  the  trouble 
for  us,  so  I  do  not  see  any  good  arbitration  with  a  committee  of 
Knights  of  Labor  could  accomplish. 

[Signed]  "JOHN  C.  BROWN, 

"  Receiver." 

Later  in  the  day  Receiver  Brown  sent  a  supplemental  dispatch  as 
xdlows  : 


28  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

"  Dallas,  Texas,  March  11, 1886. 
"  To  T.  V.  Powderly,  Philadelphia  : 

"I  omitted  to  say  in  my  dispatch  this  morning  that  the  II nil 
States  Circuit  Court,  under  the  orders  of  which  we  hold  our  appoi 
ment  as  receivers,  is  open  and  entirely  accessible  any  day  to  any  cc 
plaint  of  the  employes  of  the  Texas  &  Pacific  Eailway,  who  have  s 
real  or  imaginary  grievances  since  the  receivers  were  appointed,  a 
the  court  will  hear  and  entertain  with  impartiality  any  application  ms 
by  parties  preferring  their  grievances. 

[Signed]  '         "  JOHN  C.  BROWX, 

"  Eeceiver  Texas  &  Pacific  Eailway." 

At  Little  Bock,  Arkansas,  on  the  11th  of  March,  1886,  a  party 
strikers  detached  an  engine  from  a  passenger  train  and  rapidly  folk 
ing  a  freight  train,  which  had  successfully  run  the  blockade,  overtc 
and  killed  it.  They  were  in  turn  followed  by  another  engine  w 
United  States  Deputy  Marshals,  who  overhauled  the  strikers,  re-e: 
tured  the  engine  and  returned  with  both  engines  to  Little  Eock.  1 
strikers,  when  overtaken,  attempted  to  escape  to  the  woods,  but  w< 
fired  upon,  and  one  of  their  number,  Dick  Sullivan,  was  shot  in  1 
thigh. 

Xo  effort  at  concealment  or  subterfuge  was  now  resorted  to,  1 
strikers,  boldly,  and  in  the  face  of  marshals,  police,  detectives,  sher 
and  constables,  killing  engines,  side-tracking  trains,  uncoupling  cars  s 
warning  engineers  and  firemen.  One  day  was  but  a  repetition  of  1 
events  of  another,  except  in  the  increasing  audacity  of  the  maddened  m 
In  St.  Louis  chaos  reigned.  The  police  force  of  the  city,  reinforced 
scores  of  detectives  clothed  with  the  powers  of  peace  officers,  w< 
utterly  powerless. 

Vice-President  Hoxie  determined  to  ask  the  intervention  of  ' 
courts,  and  accordingly  the  following  proceedings  were  had  in  the  < 
cuit  Court  of  St.  Louis,  on  the  13th  of  March,  and  the  injunction  \ 
served  upon  470  prominent  Knights  of  Labor : 

"Plaintiff  states  that  it  is  a  railroad  corporation,  duly  organized  un< 

the  laws  of  the  States  of ,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  i 

transacting  a  general  railroad  business  in  the  transportation  of  pass 

gers  and  freight  over  its  lines  of  railroads  in  the  States  of i 

elsewhere  ;  that  it  is  the  owner  in  possession  and  entitled  to  the  ex( 
sive  use  of  its  said  lines  of  railway  in  this  and  other  States,  aggregat 
many  miles  in  length,  and  extending  from  the  Mississippi  river  into  i 
through  county  of in  the  western  boundary  of  said  State  of  IV 


BUREAU    OF    LABOR    STATISTICS.  29 


ouri,  at  Kansas  City,  and  there  connecting  with  numerous  other  rail- 
oads,  and  having-  branches  and  lines  connecting  with  its  main  line  at 
arious  other  points  in  said  State,  and  extending  through  the  same  to 
nd  through  other  States  and  Territories,  and  connecting  with  other 
oads  leading  to  the  Pacific  coast,  to  divers  points  throughout  the 
Flirted  States  and  the  Republic  of  Mexico,  and  is  the  owner  of,  and  has 
ow  in  its  possession  and  ready  for  immediate  use  within  the  said 

ounty  of  ,  a  large  number  of  locomotives,  cars,  switch  engines 

nd  all  other  appliances  necessary  and  proper  for  running  and  operating 
;s  said  railroads,  and  for  the  transportation  of  freight  and  passengers 
ver  the  same,  the  transaction  of  its  business  generally,  and  for  the 
roper  discharge  of  its  duties  to  the  public  as  a  common  carrier. 

"Plaintiff  further  states  that  the  eastern  terminus  of  its  said  lines  of 
ailroad  is  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  State  of  Missouri,  where  it  connects 
rith  many  lines  of  railroad  going  to  various  cities  and  other  places 
orth  and  east  of  said  city  of  St.  Louis,  to  and  from  which,  when  its 
usiness  is  not  interrupted,  its  trains  are  constantly  moving. 

"Plaintiff  further  states  that  the  defendants,  most  of  whom  were 
armerly  employes  of  the  plaintiff,  are  citizens  or  residents  of  the  said 

ounty  of ;    that  on  March  6,  1886,  said  employes,  defendants 

erein,  as  plaintiff  is  informed  and  believes,  and  so  charges,  in  obedience 
o  a  peremptory  order  from  an  organization  known  as  the  Knights  of 
.labor,  of  which  said  order  they  are  members,  without  proper  or  reason- 
ble  notice  to  plaintiff,  and  without  any  cause,  in  a  body,  abruptly, 
imultaneously  and  wrongfully  abandoned  the  service  of  plaintiff,  and 
rbitrarily  and  without  authority  or  right,  and  without  the  consent  and 
gainst  the  wishes  of  plaintiff,  attempted  to  assume  custody  and  control 
f  plaintiff's   said  yards,  locomotives,   switch   engines,   cars,   tracks, 

nachine  shops  and  round-houses  in  said  county  of ,  and  them- 

elves  refused  to  perform  any  work  or  labor  for  plaintiff,  or  to  permit 
,ny  one  else  to  do  so,  except  with  special  permission  from  them,  thus 

Liilawfully  and  wrongfully  stopping  within  the  said  county  of all 

pork  in  the  shops  and  yards  of  plaintiff,  and  also  the  handling  of  freight, 
nd  the  movement  of  trains  for  the  transportation  thereof  by  plaintiff, 
,nd  also  stopping  the  plaintiff's  passenger  trains,  except  such  as  they 
peeially  permitted  to  run,  thereby  interfering  with  and  obstructing 
•laintiff's  business  as  a  common  carrier  over  all  of  its  said  lines  of  rail- 
oad,  to  the  irreparable  damage  and  injury  of  the  plaintiff. 

"Plaintiff  further  states  that  it  is  informed  and  believes,  and  so 
barges,  that  the  said  organization,  known  as  the  "  Knights  of  Labor  of 
■forth  America,"  is  a  secret  society  with  branches  and  sub-organizations 


30  BUREAU   OF   LABOR^  STATISTICS. 

known  as  District  Assemblies  and  lodges ;  that  the  members  of  said 
organization  are  composed  of  railroad  employes  and  other  persons. 
Plaintiff  is  not  advised  as  to  all  the  purposes  and  objects  of  said  organi- 
zations, but  is  informed  and  believes,  and  so  charges,  that  one  of  the 
avowed  purposes  of  said  organizations  is  to  control  the  action  of  their 
members  as  to  when,  how,  and  upon  what  terms,  they  shall  enter  into 
the  service  of  this  plaintiff,  and  when,  and  under  what  terms,  they  shall 
abandon  such  service,  and  also  as  to  the  mode  and  manner  in  which 
they  shall  attempt  to  compel  the  acquiescence  of  this  plaintiff  in  any 
demands  they  may  choose  to  make.  Plaintiff  further  states  that  it  is 
informed  and  believes,  and  so  charges,  that  one  of  the  said  organiza- 
tions of  the  "Knights  of  Labor  of  Xorth  America,"  known  as  District 
Assembly  No.  101,  is  located  in  the  City  of  St.  Louis,  of  which  J.  J. 
Mc  Garry  is  a  general  officer  and  Judge-Advocate,  and  M.  H.  Palmer  is 
Grand  Worthy  Foreman ;  that  another  and  inferior  organization  of  said 

Knights  of  Labor,  known  as  the  " Assembly  Lodge,  No. ,"' 

is  located  in  said  county  of ,  of  which  said  lodge is  chair- 
man and  said constitute  the  Executive  Committee  of  said  lodge, 

and  all  of  the  defendants  herein  are  members  of  said  lodge  and  said 
District  Assembly,  and  subject  to  the  orders  of  the  officers  and  execu- 
tive committees  thereof. 

"Plaintiff  is  informed  and  believes,  and  so  charges,  that  in  pursuance 
of  the  secret  obligations  assumed  by  each  and  all  of  the  members  of 
said  organizations,  including  the  defendants  herein,  and  of  the  regula- 
tions prescribed  for  their  government,  they  are  required  to  yield  im- 
plicit and  unquestioning  obedience  to  any  and  all  orders  or  requests 
made,  given  or  communicated  to  them  by  said  officers,  executive  com- 
mittee or  either  of  them,  directly  or  indirectly,  verbally  or  in  writing, 
relating  to  the  employment  or  service  of  themselves  or  others  by  or  in 
connection  with  this  plaintiff. 

"And  plaintiff  further  states  that  it  is  informed  and  believes,  and  so 
charges,  that  the  members  of  said  organizations  located  in  said  county 

of ,  including  the  defendants  herein,  have  held  frequent  meetings, 

prior  and  subsequent  to  said  March  6,  1886,  for  the  purpose  of  unlaw- 
fully conspiring  and  combining  together,  and  that  they  had  so  unlawfully 
combined  and  conspired  together,  to  dictate  to  this  plaintiff  whom  it 
should,  and  whom  it  should  not  employ,  to  perform  the  various  services 
necessary  for  the  transactions  of  its  said  business.  That  said  defend- 
ants, by  said  unlawful  combination  and  conspiracy,  have  taken,  and  are 
still  taking,  an  unlawful  advantage  of  their  position  and  power  to  con- 
trol the  actions  and  business  of  this  plaintiff,  and  to  wrongfully  and  un- 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  31 


lawfully  oppress  and  destroy  its  business  and  property,  and  to  intimi- 
date and  deter  by  threats  and  force  other  persons  from  entering  into 
the  service  of  plaintiff. 

"Plaintiff  charges  on  information  and  belief  that  before  and  after 
the  defendants  herein  abandoned  its  service  as  hereinbefore  stated, 

the  members  of  said «—  Assembly,  Lodge  No. ,  and  District 

Assembly  No.  101,  including  the  defendants  herein,  unlawfully  and 
wrongfully  combined,  confederated  and  conspired  together  to  prevent 
this  plaintiff  from  running  its  trains,  using  its'  shops,  operating  its 
switch  engines,  and  from  transporting  freight  and  passengers  thereon 

from  its  depots  in  the  said  county  of and  elsewhere  over  its 

said  lines  of  road,  and  also  to  prevent  by  intimidation,  threats  and 
force,  this  plaintiff  from  retaining  or  securing  the  services  of  such 
other  men,  for  the  purpose  of  performing  its  necessary  work  in  its  said 
shops  and  yards  and  operating  its  trains,  as  are  not  members  of  the 
Knights  of  Labor  aforesaid,  and  that  the  officers  and  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  said  District  Assembly  No.  101,  and  the  officers  and  Execu- 
tive Committee  of  said Assembly,  Lodge  No.  — ,  in  pursuance  of 

the  resolution  and  determination  of  their  respective  bodies,  have  them- 
selves entered,  and  by  their  orders  and  directions  have  caused  the 
other  defendants  herein  to  enter  upon  the  premises  and  right  of  way 

of  this  plaintiff  in  said  county  of ,  for  the  purpose  of  ordering, 

directing  and  requesting,  and  by  intimidation,  threats  and  force,  caus- 
ing such  of  plaintiff's  employes  as  are  still  in  the  service  of  plaintiff, 
and  who  are  willing  to  continue  in  its  servce,  to  abandon  their  employ- 
ment, and  to  refuse  to  render  such  service  as  they  have  engaged  to 
render  to  this  plaintiff,  and  to  persuade  and  intimidate  by  threats  and 
force  such  others  as  are  willing,  if  unmolested,  and  not  interfered  with 
by  the  defendants,  to  work  for  this  plaintiff  and  to  handle  the  freight 
offered  for  transportation,  and  operate  and  manage  the  trains  of  this, 
plaintiff,  and  thereby  enable  it  to  discharge  its  duty  to  the  public  as  a 
common  carrier,  to  abandon  plaintiff's  service;  and  all  said  defendants,, 
including  said  officers  and  members  of  said  Executive  Committees,. 
have,  as  ordered,  directed  and  requested  as  aforesaid,  and  in  pursuance 
of  the  said  unlawful  confederation,  combination  and  conspiracy,  re- 
peatedly, wrongfully  and  unlawfully,  and  against  the  orders  and  pro- 
tests of  this  plaintiff,  entered  upon  the  premises  and  right  of  way  of 

this  plaintiff  in  said  county  of ,  and  have  by  demand,  direction, 

solicitation,  intimidation,  threats  and  force,  deterred  and  prevented  the 
servants  of  this  plaintiff  from  rendering  it  any  service  in  its  said  shops 
and  yards,  and  in  the  operation  and  management  of  its  switch  engines 


32  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 


and  trains,  and  in  the  conduct  of  its  business  and  the  discharge  of  its 
duties  to  the  public  as  a  common  carrier,  and  they  are  now  hourly  con- 
tinuing- to  so  trespass  upon  plaintiff's  said  premises  and  right  of  way, 
and  to  so  interfere  with  its  servants  and  business,  to  the  irreparable 
injury  and  damage  of  the  plaintiff  and  to  the  great  detriment  of  the 
community  at  large. 

"  And  the  plaintiff,  on  information  and  belief,  further  charges  that 
the  said  defendants  have,  in  pursuance  of  the  orders,  directions  and  re- 
quests of  said  officers  and  committee,  and  in  pursuance  of  the  said  com- 
binations and  conspiracy  aforesaid,  repeatedly,  unlawfully  and  wrong- 
fully, and  against  the  orders  and  protests  of  this  plaintiff,  entered  upon 

the  premises  and  right  of  way  of  this  plaintiff  in  said  county  of , 

and  injured,  disabled  and  killed  its  engines  and  cars,  so  as  to  entirely 
prevent  this  plaintiff  from  lawfully  and  peacefully  pursuing  its  said 
business  as  a  common  carrier  as  aforesaid,  and  the  said  defendants 
have  threatened,  and  are  stil  threatening  to,  and  will  continue  and  re- 
peat the  said  several  trespasses  and  interferences  with  the  employes 
and  said  property  of  plaintiff  hereinbefore  set  out,  so  as  to  entirely 
and  indefinitely  prevent  this  plaintiff  from  running  its  trains  and  trans- 
acting its  business  as  a  common  carrier,  unless  restrained  by  the  orders 
of  this  court;  and  plaintiff  avers  that  without  the  aid  of  this  court  it 
is  utterly  powerless  to  prevent  said  unlawful  and  wrongful  trespasses 
and  interferences  with  its  said  employes  and  property,  and  is  now  and 
will  be  utterly  unable  to  transact  its  business  and  to  discharge  its 
duties  to  the  public  as  required  by  law. 

"Plaintiff  further  states  that  it  is  imformed  and  believes,  and  so 
charges,  that  for  each  of  the  said  several  trespasses  upon  its  said 
premises  and  right  of  way,  and  interferences  with  its  said  employes 
and  property,  done  and  threatened  by  the  defendants  to  the  injury 
of  this  plaintiff,  this  plaintiff  is  entitled  to  maintain  an  action  at  law, 
but  to  avail  itself  of  such  right  would  occasion  a  great  multiplicity  of 
suits,  amounting  to  many  hundreds  each  and  every  day,  and  this,  plain- 
tiff states,  as  a  further  reason  for  not  instituting  such  action  at  law;  that 
it  is  informed  and  believes,  and  so  charges,  that  said  defendants  are 
wholly  irresponsible  in  damages  adequate  to  the  great  loss  and  injury 
they  cause,  and  threaten  to  cause  daily  to  this  plaintiff,  so  that  actions 
at  law  would  be  wholly  unavailing  to  afford  adequate  redress  to  this 
plaintiff  for  the  said  loss  and  injuries. 

"  And  plaintiff  further  states  that  it  has,  at  various  points  on  its 
lines  of  road,  in  the  State  of  Missouri  and  elsewere,  including  said 
county  of ,  a  large  number  of  freight  trains,  composed  of  cars 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  33 


loaded  with  costly  and  perishable  goods,  wares  and  merchandise,  which 
it  is  under  contract  to  deliver  to  the  consignees  thereof  in  the  State  of 
Missouri  and  elsewhere,  within  a  reasonable  time  from  the  receipt  of 
the  same,  which  said  freight  this  plaintiff  has  been  unable  to  deliver 
by  reason  of  the  said  wrongful  and  unlawful  conduct  of  the  defendants 
herein,  and  if  the  threatened  interference  of  these  defendants  with  the 
business  of  this  plaintiff  and  its  efforts  to  procure  employes  and  to 
retain  those  now  in  its  service  is  carried  into  execution,  this  plaintiff 
will  be  wholly  unable  to  perform  its  said  contracts  to  deliver  said 
freights,  to  the  irreparable  injury  and  damage  of  this  plaintiff  and  to 
the  great  damage  to  the  consignees  thereof. 

"  Wherefore,  inasmuch  as  the  plaintiff  has  no  adequate  remedy  at 
law  by  an  action  forw damages,  for  the  said  several  grievances,  and 
which  said  damages  are  likewise  incapable  of  being  accurately  computed 
or  adequately  recompensed  in  an  action  at  law,  and  in  order  to  avert  a 
threatened  irreparable  damage  and  injury  to  itself  and  to  its  property  and 
business,  and  to  prevent  the  consummation  of  grievous,  irreparable 
wrongs  and  injuries,  and  to  prevent  a  multiplicity  of  suits,  the  plaintiff 
prays  that  this  Honorable  Court  will,  on  the  final  hearing  of  this  case, 
grant  its  writ  of  injunction,  perpetually  enjoining  and  restraining  the 
said  defendants,  and  each  and  all  of  them,  from  entering  upon  its  said 
premises  and  right  of  way,  and  from  committing  any  of  the  said  tres- 
passes, acts  and  things  threatened  as  aforesaid.  And  this  plaintiff 
further  prays  this  Honorable  Court  that  in  the  meantime,  and  pending 
this  litigation,  a  temporary  injunction  or  restraining  order  be  issued, 
forbidding  and  commanding  said  defendants  and  each  of  them,  from 
committing  any  of  the  said  several  acts,  trespasses  and  things  com- 
plained of,  and  threatened  to  be  repeated  as  hereinbefore  set  forth, 
until  the  further  orders  of  this  Court,  and  the  plaintiff  prays  for  such 
other  and  further  relief  as  in  equity  and  good  conscience  it  may  be  en- 
titled to,  on  the  facts  herein  stated.     And  plaintiff  will  ever  pray,  etc. 

[Signed]  "  THOS.  J.  POETIS, 

"  Attorney  for  The  Missouri  Pacific  Railway. 
"  HOUGH,  OVERALL  &  JUDSON, 
"  Of  Counsel." 

"  State  of j 

County  of j  S8, 

"I,  H.  M.  Hoxie,  on  oath  state  that  I  am  tbe  First  Vice-President  of 
the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company,  plaintiff  in  the  foreging  petition, 

L  S — 3. 


34  BUREAU    OF    LABOR    STATISTICS. 

that  I  have  read  the  said  petition,  and  know  the  contents  thereof,  and 
that  the  matters  and  things  stated  as  facts  are  true,  and  the  matters 
and  things  stated  upon  information  and  belief,  I  believe  to  be  true. 
'[Signed]  "H.  M.  HOXIE, 

"  First  Vice-President." 

"Now  on  this  13th  day  of  March,  1880,  comes  The  Missouri  Pacific 
Railway  Company,  plaintiff  in  the  above  entitled  suit,  by  attorneys,  and 
presents  its  petition  praying  relief  against  the  defendants,  and  also 
praying  that  a  temporary  injunction  issue  to  restrain  the  said  defend- 
ants from  doing  or  performing  certain  acts  and  things  in  said  petition 
specified,  which  said  petition  being  heard  and  duly  considered,  and  it 
appearing  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Court  that  upon  the  facts  stated  in 
its  petition  the  plaintiff  is  entitled  to  the  relief  prayed,  it  is  hereby  or- 
dered that  upon  the  execution  by  the  plaintiff  of  a  bond  in  the  sum  of 
ten  thousand  dollars,  conditioned  according  to  law,  with  good  and  suf- 
ficient sureties,  the  defendants,  and  each  of  them,  be  enjoined  and  re- 
strained from  entering  upon  the  premises  and  right  of  way  of  said 
plaintiff  in  the  City  of  St.  Louis  and  from  ordering,  directing,  request- 
ing, soliciting  and  intimidating  any  of  the  employes  of  this  plaintiff, 
while  they  are  upon  the  premises  of  plaintiff,  for  the  purpose  of  induc- 
ing them  to  abandon  the  service  of  plaintiff,  and  from  in  any  manner 
deterring  any  persons  from  entering  into  or  continuing  in  the  service 
of  plaintiff,  while  such  persons  are  upon  its  premises,  and  said  defend- 
ants, and  each  of  them,  are  hereby  enjoined  and  restrained  from  inter- 
meddling with,  or  in  any  manner  molesting  or  injuring  the  property  of 
said  plaintiff,  and  also  from  hindering  or  obstructing  the  plaintiff  in  the 
use  of  its  property,  and  in  the  running  and  management  of  its  trains, 
and  the  public  performance  of  its  duties  as  a  common  carrier.- 

"  Bond  approved  and  filed. 

"  A  true  copy  from  the  record. 

"  Attest,  with  seal  of  Court. 

"  CHARLES  F.  VOGEL,  Clerk." 

Similar  petitions  were  thereafter  filed,  and  similar  restraining  orders 
were  granted,  in  the  Circuit  Courts  of  the  counties  of  Franklin,  Osage, 
Johnson,  Cass,  Marion,  Jackson  and  Mississippi,  in  Missouri,  and  in 
several  counties  and  also  the  Federal  Court  in  Kansas  ;  and  also  in  the 
Chancery  Court  for  the  State  of  Arkansas,  and  in  several  courts  in 
Texas. 

The  following  offers  of  reward  and  others  of  similar  import  were 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  35 


inserted  in  the  newspapers  and  posted  in  public  places,  at  St.  Louis 
and  other  principal  points  along  the  lines  : 

"$300  Reward. 

"Three  hundred  dollars  reward  will  be  paid  by  the  St.  Louis,  Iron 
Mountain  and  Southern  Railway  Company  for  the  arrest  and  conviction, 
or  for  information  leading  to  the  arrest  and  conviction,  of  each  of  the 
persons  who  have  destroyed  or  injured  the  property  of  said  company 
at  De  Soto,  in  Jefferson  County,  or  in  the  City  of  St.  Louis,  or  else- 
where in  the  State  of  Missouri,  since  the  5th  day  of  March,  1886,  and 
the  sum  of  $200  will  be  paid  for  the  arrest  and  conviction,  or  for  in- 
formation leading  to  the  arrest  and  conviction  of  each  person  who  has 
agreed,  conspired,  combined  and  confederated  with  any  other  person 
or  persons,  to  destroy  or  injure  the  property  of  said  company  in  said 
State  since  the  5th  day  of  March,  1886. 

"  Parties  desiring  to  give  information  under  this  notice  will  com- 
municate the  same  to  Col.  Robert  S.  McDonald,  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis. 

"H.  M.  HOXIE, 

"  Vice-President." 

The  railway  officials  at  all  prominent  places  continually  renewed 
their  efforts  to  move  freights,  but  were  invariably  unsuccessful,  not  be- 
cause of  lack  of  men,  but  because  great  crowds  would  surround  the 
engines  and  by  their  peculiar  methods  "persuade  "  the  willing  employes 
to  abandon  their  tasks.  At  Pacific,  Mo.,  on  the  13th,  a  passenger  train, 
which  had  heretofore  been  permitted  to  run  unmolested,  was  detained 
by  a  force  of  one  hundred  bridge  men  under  a  contractor.  These  men 
were  not  in  the  employ  of  the  railway  company.  On  the  same  day  vio- 
lent demonstrations  were  made  at  Sedalia,  where  the  men,  in  defiance 
of  the  police  force,  with  noise  and  menaces,  drove  firemen  and  en- 
gineers from  their  posts.  The  police  made  a  large  number  of  arrests, 
including  that  of  Hugh  Fitzsimmons,  Chairman  of  the  Strikers'  Local 
Executive  Committee.  Similar  acts  of  violence  and  intimidation  oc- 
curred at  Kansas  City,  Atchison  and  Parsons,  Kansas,  and  at  all  the 
principal  points  in  Texas.  But  in  Texas  the  potent  influence  of  the 
Deputy  United  States  Marshals  was  being  felt  and  many  arrests  were 
made  for  contempt  of  court.  Some  few  freight  trains  at  principal 
points  were  sullenly  allowed  to  arrive  and  depart. 

On  March  15  Martin  Irons  telegraphed  to  Vice-President  Hoxie 
as  follows  : 


36  BUREAU    OF   LABOR    STATISTICS. 

"  Sedalia,  Mo.,  March  15,  1886. 
"H.  M.  Hoxie,  First    Vice-President  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Com- 
pany, St.  Louis,  Mo.  : 

"  It  has  been  intimated  to  me  that  a  Committee  of  Knights  of  La- 
bor, composed  of  railroad  employes,  would  be  admitted  to  conference 
with  you  in  regard  to  the  difficulties  now  existing  with  said  employes 
and  the  railroad  companies  composing  the  Gould  Southwestern  Sys- 
tem. If  it  is  your  wish,  such  committee  is  ready  for  said  conference  at 
such  time  and  plaee  as  you  may  determine.  Please  answer  me  at  Se- 
dalia. 

[Signed.]  "MARTIN  IKONS, 

"Chairman  K.  of  L.  Executive  Committee." 

Mr.  Hoxie  replied  as  follows : 

"  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  March  16,  1886. 
"Martin  Irons,  Chairman  Executive    Committee   Knights   of  Labor, 

Sedalia,  Mo.  : 

"  I  am  in  receipt  of  yours  of  the  15th  inst.,  in  which  you  say  it  has 
been  intimated  to  you  that  a  committee  of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  com- 
posed of  railroad  employes,  would  be  admitted  to  a  conference  with 
me  in  regard  to  the  difficulties  now  existing  with  said  employes  and 
the  railroad  companies  composing  the  Southwestern  System. 

"  While  I  am  always  ready  to  confer  with  and  hear  the  complaints 
of  any  employe  of  the  companies  I  represent,  I  can  not  see  that  a  meet- 
ing with  a  committee,  such  as  you  propose,  would  adjust  the  trouble, 
as  I  am  informed  that  the  reason  for  the  existing  difficulties  was  the 
discharge  of  one  C.  A.  Hall  by  the  Receivers  of  the  Texas  &  Pacific 
Railway,  a  road  not  under  my  control,  and  with  the  management  of 
which  I  have  no  voice  or  authority. 

"  I  would  further  say  in  this  connection  that  the  action  taken  by 
our  late  employes  has  so  reduced  our  traffic  that  we  shall  not  soon 
again  require  as  many  men  in  our  shops  as  heretofore,  but  all  good 
men  who  desire  employment,  and  are  acceptable  to  our  Superintend- 
ents, will  hereafter,  as  heretofore,  be  well  and  promptly  paid  for  the 
services  rendered,  and  if  they  have  any  complaints  I  will  take  pleasure 
in  meeting  them  for  that  purpose. 

[Signed]  "H.  M.  HOXIE." 

While  this  state  of  affairs  existed  in  St.  Louis  serious  troubles, 
ultimatelv  to  result  in  a  tragedy,  were  brewing  among  the  employes  of 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  37 


the  various  railways  centering-  at  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois,  growing  out 
of  an  alleged  difference  in  the  prices  paid  at  East  St.  Louis  and  those 
paid  at  Chicago  for  the  same  kind  of  work. 

Even  if  the  grievance  was  unfounded,  in  fact,  it  was  evident  that 
the  sympathetic  feeling  existing  between  those  of  either  side  of  the 
Mississippi  river  would  induce  the  Knights  of  Labor  of  the  Illinois 
side  to  make  common  cause  with  their  brethren  of  the  west  side 
on  the  slightest  pretext.  From  a  comparison  of  contemporaneous 
newspapers  it  appears  that  in  St.  Louis,  March  17,  a  meeting  represent- 
ing the  Wabash,  Vandalia,  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis,  Ohio  &  Missis- 
sippi, Chicago  &  Alton,  Burlington,  Cairo  Short  Line,  Louisville  & 
Nashville,  East  St.  Louis  &  Carondelet,  Bridge  &  Tunnel  and  the 
Gould  roads,  was  held  to  consider  a  request  from  A.  C.  Caughlan  and 
Berry  for  an  advance  in  the  wages  of  the  East  St.  Louis  switch- 
men. These  men,  Caughlan  and  Berry,  not  being  in  the  employ  of  any 
railroad,  the  representatives  of  the  roads  above  mentioned  adopted  the 
following  resolutions : 

"Whereas,  An  application  has  been  made  by  a  committee  of  the 
'  Knights  of  Labor,'  asking  various  roads  at  St.  Louis  and  East  St. 
Louis  to  increase  the  pay  of  certain  employes;  and, 

"  Whereas,  We  do  not  believe  that  non-employes  should  come 
between  employers  and  those  employed,  in  the  settlement  of  differen- 
ces ;  therefore  be  it 

"Resolved,  That  we  say  to  our  employes  that  we  will  not  consider 
the  question  of  the  increase  of  wages  unless  application  for  such  in- 
crease is  made  directly  by  our  employes  to  their  immediate  employers, 
in  which  case  due  consideration  will  be  given  to  the  requests  and 
proper  action  will  be  taken." 

This  action  was  construed  to  be  a  refusal  to  recognize  the  Knights 
of  Labor  as  an  organization,  and  a  determination  to  treat  with  employes 
merely  as  individuals. 

Previous  to  this  Messrs.  Caughlan  and  Berry  had  requested  Mr.  P. 
Flanigan,  freight  agent  of  the  Wabash  road,  to  adopt  the  following 
schedule  of  wages  for  switchmen  in  East  St.  Louis,  viz. : 

"  Xight  foremen,  $3 ;  night  helpers,  $2.75;  day  foremen,  $2.75 ;  day 
helpers,  $2.50;  also  to  constitute  one  foreman  and  two  helpers  to  each 
engine,  a  crew,  and  ten  hours  a  days  work,  with  over-time  to  be  paid 
30  cents  per  hour  for  foremen  and  helpers." 

Mr.  Flanigan  replied  informing  the  gentlemen  that  the  road  was  in 
the  hands  of  the  United  States  Court,  and  that  any  grievance  would 
be  promptly  considered  by  that  tribunal,  and  that  employes  understand 


38  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 


that  they  will  be  paid  the  same  wages  for  similar  services  as  are  paid 
by  competing  roads. 

This  is  only  interesting  as  the  initial  history  of  the  subsequent 
troubles  in  East  St.  Louis  that  resulted  in  so  much  loss  of  life  and 
property. 

At  this  time  under  the  active  agency  of  the  United  States  Mar- 
shals, business  was  being  gradually  resumed  and  trains  were  running 
with  some  degree  of  safety  and  regularity  on  that  part  of  the  Texas 
and  Pacific,  south  of  Sherman,  and  at  Marshall  many  of  the  strikers 
had  resumed  their  former  places,  and  new  men  were  being  rapidly  im- 
ported to  take  the  places  of  those  who  still  persisted  in  the  strike. 

Of  course,  acts  of  violence  were  common,  and  a  number  of  ar- 
rests were  made.  On  the  night  of  the  16th  an  attempt  was  made  to 
wreck  a  passenger  train  near  Marshall  by  the  removal  of  spikes  from 
the  rails,  but  no  serious  consequences  occurred.  Public  sentiment 
against  the  striking  men  began  to  express  itself  in  public  meetings, 
such  as  at  Dallas  and  Greenville,  Texas,  where  strong  condemnatory 
resolutions  were  adopted. 

It  was  currently  reported,  that  in  a  conference  with  a  committee 
of  strikers,  Governor  Sheldon,  one  of  the  receivers  of  the  Texas  and 
Pacific  road,  had  made  concessions  in  the  C.  A.  Hall  case,  whereby 
United  States  Circuit  Judge  Don  A.  Pardee  should  arbitrate  the  mat- 
ter. Gov.  Brown,  the  other  receiver,  in  referring  to  this  matter  in  an 
authorized  interview,  says : 

"  As  he  understood  the  matter,  Gov.  Sheldon  made  no  concession 
at  all,  but  only  saw  the  committee  of  the  striking  employes  who  called 
upon  him  at  New  Orleans  yesterday  (March  17th),  and  asked  the  ques- 
tion whether  or  not  the  receivers  would  make  any  opposition  to  the 
presentation  of  the  Hall  case  to  Judge  Pardee.  They  were  assured  by 
Gov.  Sheldon  that  there  woidd  be  no  opposition  on  the  part  of  the  re- 
ceivers; on  the  contrary,  it  was  the  course  they  had  marked  out  as  the 
proper  remedy  for  men  who  claimed  to  be  aggrieved.  ***** 
He  was  satisfied  that  Judge  Pardee  would  entertain  the  application, 
and  would  hear  all  the  facts  and  decide  the  case  fairly,  and  that  the 
receivers  were  far  from  resisting  the  application,  but  were  pleased  that 
tins  course  should  be  taken  as  a  solution  of  the  question.  Gov.  Brown 
further  said,  that  in  his  second  reply  to  Mr.  Powderly  he  had  indicated 
that  this  was  the  proper  course  for  Mr.  Hall,  or  any  other  employes  feel- 
ing themselves  aggrieved,  to  pursue,  and  that  in  interviews  with  the 
press  and  through  circulars  to  the  men  he  had  indicated  this  as  the 
proper  course  to  pursue.     There  will  be  no  discretion  if  Mr.  Hall,  or 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  39 


any  other  of  the  discharged  employes  were  reinstated  by  the  court,  as 
the  receivers  are  but  officers  of  the  court  and  are  bound  by  all  its  man- 
dates." 

Mr.  T.  Y.  Powderly,  Grand  Master  Workman  of  the  Knights  of 
Labor,  arrived  in  Kansas  City  on  the  morning  of  March  18th,  where  he 
was  met  by  a  number  of  the  local  officials  of  the  order,  and  after  con- 
sultation sent  this  telegram  to  Mr.  Hoxie  : 

"Kansas  City,  March  18,  1886. 

"H.   M.  Hoxie,  First    Vice-President,  Missouri   Pacific   Railway,  St. 

Loiiis,  Mo.: 

"Will  you  meet  with  committee  and  myself  to  arrange  settlement 
of  pending  difficulties  ?     If  so,  where  ? 

[Signed]  "  T.  V.  PO WDERLY." 

To  which  Mr.  Hoxie  made  the  following  reply : 

"  The  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company, 
Executive  Department, 

St.  Louis,  March  19, 1886. 

"  T.  Y.  Po WDERLY,  Kansas  City,  Mo. : 

"  I  have  just  received  your  telegram  of  the  18th  hist.,  asking  if  I  will 
meet  yourself  and  committee  to  arrange  settleineniy  of  the  pending  diffi- 
culties. 

"  As  this  company  now  has  contracts  and  agreements  with  various 
labor  unions  and  organizations,  and  is  not  unwilling  to  continue  to 
make  such  agreements  as  circumstances  may  require  with  such  unions 
and  organizations  of  its  employes  as  have  shown  a  disposition  to  carry 
out,  in  good  faith,  their  undertakings ;  and,  as  it  has  had  in  the  past 
contracts  with  your  organization,  and  its  representatives  have  hereto- 
fore had  conferences  with  yourself  and  other  members  of  your  Execu- 
tive Committee,  it  is  but  just  and  courteous  that  I  should  give  you  the 
reasons  for  this  company  now  declining  to  meet  yourself  and  your 
Executive  Committee,  which  it  would  have  done  before  this  strike  was 
inaugurated. 

"The  usual  object  of  such  meetings  between  railway  companies, 
through  their  representatives,  and  committees  of  their  employes,  is 
either  to  discuss  such  differences  as  may  have  arisen,  in  order  that  an 
understanding  may  be  reached  of  the  rights  and  relations  existing  be- 
tween them,  and  such  mutual  concessions  made  as  will  avoid  strikes 
and  the  losses  resulting  therefrom;  or  on  the  other  hand,  to  settle  and 


40  BUREAU  OF  LABOR  STATISTICS. 


compromise  such  differences  between  the  parties,  after  the  grievances 
of  the  employes  have  been  presented  and  redress  refused,  and  after 
resort  has  actually  been  had  to  the  strike  as  the  only  remedy. 

"  In  the  present  case  neither  of  the  above  reasons  for  a  conference 
exists,  but  the  anomaly  is  presented  of  a  strike  which  is  without  a  re- 
dressable  grievance,  which  was  entered  upon  without  notice  to  the 
company,  and  which  has  resulted  in  the  wanton  and  malicious  destruc- 
tion of  this  company's  property  by  violence  and  incendiarism,  and  in 
the  almost  total  stoppage  of  its  business  by  threats,  intimidation  and 
force. 

"  A  review  of  the  history  of  the  past  year  is  essential  to  a  full 
understanding  of  the  present  conditions. 

"  The  differences  between  this  company  and  its  employes,  resulting 
in  the  strike  of  March,  1885,  were  settled  by  the  voluntary  intercession 
of  the  executives  and  officers  of  the  States  of  Kansas  and  Missouri, 
and  not  with  your  organization.  The  agreements  subsequently  entered 
into  with  the  committees  of  your  organization  have  been  faithfully  car- 
ried out  by  this  company.  Minor  grievances  under  these  agreements 
have  from  time  to  time  been  presented,  considered  by  the  management 
and  adjusted  in  a  manner  apparently  satisfactory  to  the  petitioners,and 
for  the  sake  of  peace  and  harmony  this  company  has  repeatedly,  on 
the  demands  of  your  organization,  made  changes  in  its  staff  by  the 
removal  of  officials  entirely  satisfactory  to  the  company,  but  objec- 
tionable to  some  of  your  members. 

"  In  our  meeting  with  you  of  last  August  in  Xew  York,  your  com- 
mittee then  stated  that  no  grievances  or  complaints  existed  against  the 
Missouri  Pacific  Railway  on  the  part  of  your  organization  through  non- 
compliance with  the  contracts  then  existing,  but  that  it  was  necessary 
to  utilize  your  organization  upon  the  Missouri  Pacific  Road  to  force  an 
adjustment  of  the  difficulties  then  pending  witli  another  corporation. 

"  Similar  action  has  been  taken  by  your  organization  in  three  in- 
stances within  the  last  eight  months. 

"1.  In  threatening  that  the  members  of  your  organization  upon  the 
Missouri  Pacific  Railway  would  strike  if  it  continued  to  exchange  busi- 
ness with  the  Wabash  Road. 

"  2.  When  the  members  of  your  organization  compelled  a  strike  of 
a  portion  of  the  employes  of  this  company  in  carrying  out  your  boy- 
cott against  the  Mallory  line,  at  Galveston,  Tex. 

"  3.  In  the  present  instance,  when  the  existing  strike  was  forced 
upon  this  company  by  the  discharge  of  one  C.  A.  Hall  by  the  receivers 
of  the   Texas   &  Pacific   Railway,  a  road  in  the  hands  of  the  United 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  41 


States  Court,  and  in  the  management  of  which  this  company  has  no 
voice  or  control,  a  fact  which  your  organization  fully  recognized  when 
your  committee  made  application  to  the  receivers  of  that  road  for  rein- 
statement of  said  employe. 

"  Instances  might  be  cited  where  endeavors  have  been  made  to  use 
this  company  for  the  purpose  of  boycotting  individuals  who  had  in- 
curred the  displeasure  of  your  organization. 

u  An  especially  aggravated  case  of  the  failure  of  your  organization 
to  carry  out  its  agreements,  was  that  of  the  workmen  at  the  Palestine 
shops,  who,  in  the  last  days  of  February,  stopped  work  on  account  of 
an  alleged  grievance,  which  was  thereupon  adjusted  in  a  manner  to 
their  entire  satisfaction,  so  that  they  resumed  work  with  an  agreement 
to  continue  under  the  concessions  made  by  the  company ;  but  within 
ten  days  thereafter  again  left  their  work  on  demand  of  your  organiza- 
tion in  ordering  the  present  strike,  and  without  any  grievance  what- 
ever against  this  company. 

"  These  continued  stoppages  of  the  work  of  this  company  without 
cause  have  become  so  frequent  that,  believing  the  future  will  be  as  un- 
settled as  the  past,  it  cannot  consent  to  renew  the  agreement  volun- 
tarily and  arbitrarily  abrogated  by  your  organization,  and  longer  sub- 
mit to  it  the  management  of  our  business. 

"  This  company,  through  its  representatives,  is  and  has  always  been, 
willing  to  meet  the  public  through  committees  or  individuals,  on  matters 
of  public  concern,  and  if  yourself  or  other  intelligent  citizens  can  sug- 
gest practical  methods  whereby  the  present  situation  can  be  changed 
and  traffic  permanently  resumed,  this  company  will  be  pleased  to  meet 
yourself,  or  them,  as  citizens,  but  not  as  representatives  of  your  organ- 
ization, to  discuss  the  pending  difficulties,  or  any  other  matter  of  public 
interest. 

"  In  conclusion,  I  desire  emphatically  to  state  that  the  responsibility 
for  the  further  continuance  of  the  present  unjustifiable  strike  will  not 
rest  with  the  management  of  this  company,  but  inasmuch  as  your  or- 
ganization has  committed  the  error  of  striking  first  and  endeavoring  to 
negotiate  afterwards,  it  has  the  power  to,  and  should  end  the  present 
troubles  by  permitting  such  of  our  former  employes  and  others  as  de- 
sire to  work  to  do  so  without  fear  of  threats  and  intimidation,  leaving 
this  company  free  to  resume  its  operations  and  adjust  with  its  employes, 
as  it  is  at  all  times  ready  and  willing  to  do,  any  grievances  that  they 
may  have. 

[Signed]  "  H.  M.  HOXIE, 

"  First  Vice-President  The  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company." 


42  BUREAU    OF   LABOR    STATISTICS. 

Mr.  Powderly  replied  as  follows  : 

"  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  March  20,  1886. 

"  H.  M.  Hoxie,    First    Vice-President  Missouri  Pacific  Railway,   St. 
Louis,  Mo.: 

"  Since  you  will  not  meet  with  me  as  General  Master  Workman  of 
the  Knights  of  Labor,  I  must  decline  to  meet  you  in  any  other  capacity, 
and  the  responsibility  for  the  future  continuance  of  the  strike  must 
not  be  charged  to  the  Knights  of  Labor,  since  the  executive  officers  of 
that  order  will  not  be  permitted  to  meet  and  co-operate  with  you  in 
settling  the  strike.  It  was  my  intention,  had  you  consented  to  meet 
with  me,  to  effect  such  a  settlement  as  would  prevent  impositions  be- 
ing practiced  upon  the  employes  of  your  company  by  subordinate 
officials,  and  put  an  end  to  strikes  on  your  lines  for  the  future. 

[Signed]  "  T.  V.  POWDEKLY." 

By  prearrangement  Governor  John  S.  Marmaduke,  of  Missouri,  ac- 
companied by  Col.  D.  W.  Marmaduke,  Warden  of  the  Missouri  Peniten- 
tiary, and  myself  as  Labor  Commissioner  of  Missouri,  met  Governor 
John  A.  Martin  and  Labor  Commissioner  Frank  Betton  of  Kansas,  at 
the  Coats  House  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  on  the  morning  of  March  19,  for 
the  purpose  of  consultation.  Mr.  Powderly  being  in  the  city,  at  the 
suggestion  of  Mr.  Betton  he  called  upon  the  two  Governors,  and  during 
this  time  Martin  Irons  and  the  full  Executive  Committee  of  the  Knights 
of  Labor  of  District  Assembly  No.  101,  were  admitted  to  the  confer- 
ence. Mr.  Betton,  in  speaking  of  this  meeting,  which  he  had  much  to 
do  in  bringing  about,  says,  in  his  paper,  which  he  read  before  the  Na- 
tional Convention  of  Bureaus  of  Labor,  at  Trenton,  X.  J. :  "A  lengthy 
discussion  ensued,  which  resulted  (after  several  separate  conferences) 
in  an  agreement  on  the  part  of  the  Committee,  that  the  two  Governors 
should  visit  St.  Louis  and  endeavor  to  procure  a  settlement  of  the 
strike  upon  the  basis  of  the  contract  of  1885.  Within  an  hour  from 
the  time  the  above  conference  terminated  the  Governors  were  on  their 
way  to  St.  Louis,"  Upon  their  arrival  in  St.  Louis,  March  20,  the  fol- 
lowing letter  was  submitted  and  reply  received: 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  43 


"  St.  Louis,  March  20. 

"  H.  M.  Hoxie,  Esq.,   First  Vice-President  Missouri    Pacific   Railway 

Company  : 

"  Dear  Sir  :  On  the  19th  hist,  the  undersigned  met  at  Kansas  City 
to  discuss  the  very  serious  condition  of  affairs  in  the  States  of  Kansas 
and  Missouri,  growing  out  of  the  late  '  strike  '  on  the  lines  of  the  Mis- 
souri Pacific  Railway,  and  the  resulting  obstruction  of  the  two  States. 

"While  at  Kansas  City  we  were  visited  by  a  delegation  of  your  late 
employes,  and  after  discussing  with  them  various  phases  of  the  strike, 
we  consented  to  visit  you  and  urge  a  continuation  of  the  terms  of 
agreement  made  with  the  management  of  your  road  on  the  15th  of 
March,  1885,  and,  if  deemed  advisable,  recommend  such  modifications 
of  said  agreement  as  might  be  thought  just  to  all  concerned. 

"  On  the  15th  of  March,  1885,  the  undersigned,  with  other  State 
officers  of  Missouri  and  Kansas,  presented  to  Capt.  Hayes,  First  Vice- 
President  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company,  the  following  sug- 
gestions : 

"  '  To  Capt.  R.  S.  Hayes,  First  Vice-President  and  Chief  Executive 
Officer  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company  and  Associated 
Roads  : 

" '  Whereas,  On  account  of  the  strike  among  certain  of  the  em- 
ployes of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company,  in  the  States  of  Mis- 
souri and  Kansas,  resulting  in  the  stoppage  and  cessation  of  all  frieght 
traffic  over  said  company's  lines  in  said  States,  to  the  great  detriment 
of  business  interests  and  rights  of  the  people  of  said  States,  and  the 
continuance  of  which  endangers  the  public  peace  and  safety  of  the 
company's  property;  and, 

"  'Whereas,  The  undersigned,  representing  the  two  States  named 
aboved,  respectively,  anxious  to  restore  harmonious  relations  between 
the  said  company  and  its  said  employes,  and  to  restore  to  the  public 
the  unobstructed  use  of  said  lines  of  railroad,  do  recommend  and  re- 
quest said  company  to  restore  to  the  striking  employes  in  Missouri  and 
Kansas  the  same  wages  paid  them  in  September,  1884,  including  one 
and  one-half  price  for  extra  time  worked  ;  and  to  restore  all  said  strik- 
ing employes  to  their  several  employments  without  prejudice  to  them 
on  account  of  said  strike. 


44  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 


"  '  Believing  that  the  foregoing  will  constitute  a  just  and  fair  set- 
tlement, we  recommend  their  acceptance  by  the  striking  employes  as 
well  as  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company. 
"  '  Dated,  St.  Louis,  March  15,  1885. 
[Signed]  « '  JOHN  A.  MARTIN, 

"  '  Governor  of  Kansas. 
"  '  JOHN  S.  MARMADUKE, 

"  '  Governor  of  Missouri. 
" '  ALMERLN  GILLETT, 
"'JAMES  HUMPHREY, 
"'L.  L.  TURNER, 
"  '  Railroad  Commissioners  of  Kansas. 
"  '  GEO.  C.  PRATT, 
"'JAMES  HARDING, 
"  '  W.  G.  DOWNING, 
"  '  Railroad  Commissioners  of  Missouri. 
"'B.  G.  BOONE, 
"  '  Attorney-General   of    Missouri. 
"'J.  C.JAMISON, 

" '  Adjutant-General. 
" '  OSCAR  KOCHTITZKY, 
"  '  Commissioner  of  Labor  Statistics  and  Inspection.' 

"  Capt.  Hayes  on  the  same  date  issued  a  circular  embodying  the 
suggestion  thus  made,  and  giving  notice  that  the  rates  of  wages  and 
terms  specified  would  go  into  effect  on  the  morning  of  March  16, 1885, 
and  be  in  effeet  from  and  after  that  date  ;  and,  further,  that  said  rates 
would  not  thereafter  be  changed,  except  after  thirty  days'  notice 
thereof,  given  in  the  usual  manner. 

"  It  wil  be  observed  that  the  recommendation  of  the  officers  of 
Kansas  and  Missouri  embodied  only  two  propositions,  viz. : 

"'First. — That  the  company  restore  to  its  striking  employes  in 
Missouri  and  Kansas  the  same  wages  paid  them  in  September,  1884, 
including  one  and  one-half  price  for  extra  time  worked;  and, 

"  '  Second. — To  restore  all  said  striking  employes  to  their  several 
employments  without  prejudice  to  them  on  account  of  said  strike.' 

"  To  these  conditions  Capt.  Hayes  added  a  third,  viz. :  That  there- 
after said  rates  would  not  be  changed  except  after  thirty  days'  notice 
thereof,  given  in  the  usual  way. 

"After  careful  investigation,  we  are  unable  to  find  wherein  the 
Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company  has  violated  the  terms  and  condi- 


BUREAU  OF  LABOR  STATISTICS.  45 


tions  of  the  agreement  made  on  the  15th  of  March,  1885,  touching  its 
employes  in  our  respective  States.  No  complaint  has  ever  been  made 
to  the  Governor  of  Missouri  based  on  an  alleged  violation  of  said 
agreement,  and  but  one  has  ever  been  made  to  the  Governor  of  Kansas  ; 
and  that,  on  investigation,  proved  to  be  without  foundation,  and  was 
withdrawn  by  the  party  making  it. 

"  We  are,  therefore,  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  the  '  strike  '  of 
March  6,  1880,  could  not  have  been  and  was  not  based  on  a  violation  of 
the  terms  of  the  agreement  of  March  15,  1885,  by  the  management  of 
the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company,  in  its  dealings  with  its  employes 
in  Missouri  and  Kansas. 

"We  recognize  the  fact  that  the  Missouri  Pacific  Company  may  justly 
claim  that  the  strike  of  March  0,  1886,  relieves  it  of  the  obligations  it 
assumed  in  the  circular  of  March  15,  1885 ;  but,  nevertheless,  anxious 
that  amicable  relations  be  restored  between  the  Missouri  Pacific  Com- 
pany and  its  employes,  and  especially  that  the  far  more  important  in- 
terests involved  in  the  mighty  commerce  of  the  States  of  Missouri  and 
Kansas  should  not  continue  to  suffer,  and  that  the  great  highways  of 
business  and  travel  should  be  at  once  reopened  to  the  public,  we  would 
respectfully  but  earnestly  suggest  and  recommend  that  the  agreements 
embodied  in  the  circular  of  March  15,  1885,  be  restored  and  continued 
in  letter  and  spirit,  and  that  the  Missouri  Pacific  Company  re-employ 
in  its  service  all  of  its  old  employes,  without  prejudice  to  them  on  ac- 
count of  the  strike,  so  far  as  the  business  of  the  company  will  justify 
their  re-employment. 

"  We  make  these  suggestions  and  recommendations  in  the  interest, 
as  we  believe,  alike  of  the  company  and  its  employes,  and  more 
especially  the  greater  interests  of  the  commerce  and  the  people  of  the 
two  States. 

[Signed]  "  JOHN  A.  MARTIN, 

"  Governor  of  Kansas. 
"JOHN  S.  MARMADUKE, 

"  Governor  of  Missouri." 

"  The  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company, 
Executive  Department, 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  March  20. 

"Hon.  John  S.  Marmaduke,  Governor  of  Missouri,  and  Hon.  John 
A.  Martin,  Governor  of  Kansas: 

"Dear  Sirs  :  I  beg  respectfully  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  your 
communication  of  this  date,  stating  that  after  a  conference  at  Kansas 


16  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

Kansas  City,  with  a  delegation  of  our  late  employes,  you  consented  to 
visit  the  undersigned  and  urge  the  continuance  of  the  agreement  made 
between  yourselves  and  other  State  officers  and  the  management  of 
this  company  on  March  15,  1885,  and,  if  deemed  advisable,  recommend 
such  modifications  of  said  agreement  as  might  be  thought  just  to  all 
concerned. 

"  I  note  with  pleasure  your  conclusion  after  investigation,  that  the 
agreement  of  March  15,  1885,  has  been  kept  inviolate  by  the  Missouri 
Pacific  Railway  Company,  and  that  the  present  strike  could  not  have 
been,  and  was  not  based  on  a  violation,  by  the  management  of  this 
company,  of  the  terms  of  said  agreement ;  and  I  have  carefully  con- 
sidered your  recommendation  that  this  agreement,  which  you  concede 
the  Missouri  Pacific  Eailway  Company  is  no  longer  under  any  obliga- 
tions to  observe  towards  those  of  its  employes  who  have  abandoned 
its  services  since  the  5th  day  of  March,  1886,  should  be  restored  and 
continued. 

"  On  March  10,  1886,  this  company  inserted  in  newspapers  on  its- 
lines  and  posted  in  public  places  upon  its  property  the  following  ad- 
vertisement : 

"  'Good  and  competent  men  will  be  employed  without  reference  to 
their  past  or  present  relations  to  this  company  or  their  connection  with 
any  society  or  organization,  open,  secret,  secular  or  otherwise.  Such 
as  are  accepted  will  be  paid  the  rate  of  wages  recommended  by  the 
Governors  and  other  State  officials  of  Missouri  and  Kansas  when  the 
labor  troubles  of  March,  1885,  were  adjusted,  the  same  as  have  been 
paid  by  this  company  since  that  date.' 

"  The  above  notice  was  designed  as  a  continuance,  so  far  as  the  rate 
of  wages  is  concerned,  of  the  agreement  of  March  15,  1885,  and  is  still 
in  force,  thus  anticipating  the  recommendations  which  you  make  as  to 
the  amount  which  employes  should  be  paid. 

"  In  addition  to  the  foregoing  action  of  the  company,  which  is  in  ac- 
cord with  your  recommendations  as  to  wages,  this  company  is  further 
willing  to  pay  its  employes  a  rate  of  wages  equal  to  that  now  being 
paid  by  other  railway  companies  in  the  same  section  of  country. 

"The  further  provision  of  said  agreement  relative  to  notice  in  case 
of  reduction  of  wages,  is  not  objectionable  to  this  company,  and  will 
be  continued. 

"  Your  next  and  final  recommendation  that  this  company  re-engage 
in  its  service  all  of  its  old  employes,  without  prejudice  to  them  on  ac- 
count of  the  existing  strike,  so  far  as  the  business  of  the  company  will 
justify  their  employment,  is  acceptable  to  this  company,  with  these 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  47 

qualifications  :  The  men  who  have  been  engaged  under  the  advertise- 
ment of  March  10,  1886,  will  be  continued  in  our  employment.  We 
cannot  re-engage  or  continue  in  our  employ  any  persons  who  have  ac- 
tually engaged  in  the  destruction  or  injury  of  the  company's  property, 
or  who  have  advised  such  destruction  or  injury.  We  shall  give  pref- 
erence to  those  of  our  late  employes  who  have  families  and  own  homes 
on  the  line  of  the  road.  It  is  to  be  remembered  that  the  loss  of  traffic 
caused  by  the  present  strike,  will,  to  a  considerable  extent,  reduce  the 
necessity  of  employing  as  many  men  in  our  shops  as  heretofore. 

•'Thanking  you  for  the  consideration  you  have  given  the  subject, 
and  trusting  your  action  will  result  in  an  early  resumption  of  traffic,  I 
am,  your  excellencies,  most  obedient  servant, 

[Signed]  "  H.  M.  HOXIE. 

-First  Vice-President  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company." 

One  of  the  curious  phases  of  the  difficulty  was  the  repudiation  of 
the  mediation  of  Governors  Marmaduke  and  Martin  by  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  and  the  falsification  of  history. 
The  following  was  by  them  published : 

"  TO    THE    PUBLIC. 

"  A  statement  in  reply  to  H.  M.  Hoxie's  letter  to  the  Governors  of  Mis- 
souri and  Kansas  : 

"  In  response  to  the  propositions  contained  ina  note  written  to  Mr. 
Hoxie  by  the  Governors  of  Kansas  and  Missouri,  and  also  the  reply  of 
Mr.  Hoxie  to  the  Governors,  we  beg  to  state  : 

"  First. — That  while  in  conference  in  Kansas  City  we  were  sent  for  by 
the  Governors,  and  out  of  respect  for  them  a  committee  was  appointed, 
consisting  of  employes  of  the  Gould  road  only,  which  met  with  them,  and 
by  request  stated  the  cause  of  the  present  withdrawal  of  active  labor 
from  the  roads  of  the  Gould  Southwest  System.  On  their  suggestion 
these  gentlemen  agreed  to  see  Mr.  Hoxie  and  attempt  a  settlement  if 
possible.  It  was  agreed,  in  deference  to  their  wishes,  that  we  should 
submit  to  them  all  our  grievances,  with  the  understanding  that  they 
would  arrange  a  meeting  between  Mr.  Hoxie  and  ourselves.  They  de- 
sired permission  to  settle  as  best  they  could  on  an  understanding  that 
we  would  abide  by  their  decision.  To  this  we  demurred,  unless  we 
were  first  permitted  to  pass  upon  the  terms  of  settlement.  With  this 
understanding  we  consented  to  the  interposition  between  Mr.  Hoxie 
and  ourselves.     Mr.  Hoxie  refused  to  receive  a  delegation  from  the 


48  BUREAU    OF   LABOR    STATISTICS. 

employes  or  the  Knights  of  Labor,  and  the  Governors  received  from 
Mr.  Hoxie  the  document  published  yesterday,  which  was  given  to  the 
press  even  before  we  were  permitted  to  see  it.  Now,  in  justice  to  our- 
selves and  the  truth  of  history,  we  desire  to  make  the  following  points 
of  fact : 

"  First. — The  interposition  of  the  Governors  was  voluntary  on  their 
part,  coming  to  Kansas  City  and  seeking  an  interview  with  our  board. 

"  Second — We  refused  them  the  privilege  of  adjusting  our  differ- 
ences or  accepting  terms  of  such  settlement  without  first  submitting 
them  to  this  committee  for  approval,  notwithstanding  which  they  re- 
ceived Mr.  Hoxie's  '  proposition,7  qualifications  and  all,  and  turned 
them  over  to  the  press  and  the  public  to  see  them. 

"  Third. — They  say  to  Mr.  Hoxie :  '  After  careful  investigation  we  are 
unable  to  find  wherein  the  Missouri  Pacific  Eailway  Company  has  violated 
the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  agreement  made  on  the  15th  of  March, 
1885,  touching  the  employes  in  our  respective  States.' 

"  To  say  the  least  of  such  a  statement,  it  is  not  creditable  to  the 
minds  and  hearts  of  men  to  whom  has  been  committed  the  welfare  of  a 
great  people  to  say  that  they  will  take  advantage  of  our  want  of  skill 
in  legislative  technicalities  and  wink  at  gross  violations  of  a  sacred 
agreement  in  its  plainly  manifest  spirit,  because  its  technical  letter 
gives  an  apparent  advantage  to  a  great  corporation. 

" The  Goverors  state  further:  'We  recognize  the  fact  that  the 
Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company  may  justly  claim  that  the  strike  of 
March  6,  1886,  relieves  it  of  the  obligations  it  assumed  in  the  circular 
of  March  15,  1885.'  In  rendering  this  verdict  the  Governors  have 
blindly  ignored  the  fact  that  the  obligations  assumed  in  said  circular  at 
that  time  took  effect  on  all  the  roads  operated  and  leased  by  the  said 
Missouri  Pacific  Eailway  Company,  and  was  fully  understood  so  to  ap- 
ply, although  by  oversight  but  two  roads  and  States  were  mentioned 
therein.  Evidence  is  at  hand  that  striking  employes  of  that  date  were, 
up  to  the  day  of  this  strike,  still  working  for  less  pay  than  before  the 
strike  of  last  year,  showing  not  a  restoration  of  old  pay,  but  really  a 
reduction,  in  violation  of  said  circular  agreement. 

"  Evidence  is  at  hand  that  bridgemen  have  been  compelled  to 
work  many  hours  over  time  without  receiving  the  agreed  over-time 
pay.  Evidence  is  at  hand  to  prove  that  in  order  to  make  it  necessary 
to  reduce  the  force  of  workingmen,  work  has  been  sent  to  contract 
shops,  and  in  one  instance  a  whole  foundry  sub-let  in  order  to  bring 
the  men  under  a  new  supervision,  thus  depriving  the  men  of  the  pro- 
visions of  the  circular  agreement.     All  this  done  to  create  dissatisfac- 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  49 

tiou  and  induce  the  men  to  leave  the  company's  employ,  after  which 
other  men  were  employed  and  always  at  reduced  rates.  Evidence  is  at 
hand  that  whole  gangs  of  men  have  been  discharged,  notwithstanding 
that  Mr.  Hoxie  agreed  on  May  18,  1885,  that  rather  than  reduce  the 
working  force  he  would  reduce  the  hours  of  work. 

"  Every  effort  to  have  these  men  reinstated  was  refused  by  the 
company  on  the  ground  that  they  were  not  covered  by  the  agreement, 
which  agreement  says  :  "We  will  reduce  the  hours  of  work  instead  of 
reducing  the  force  whenever  the  necessity  arises."  The  outrages  on 
the  Texas  Pacific  Railroad  are  sought  to  be  made  a  matter  entirely  out 
of  the  range  of  the  agreement.  Men  were,  out  of  sheer  prejudice,  dis- 
charged without  an  effort  to  reduce  the  hours  of  work.  The  receivers 
fail  to  comply  with  the  agreement  of  the  company  with  the  employes, 
after  the  institution  of  the  receivership,  notwithstanding  they  do  not 
repudiate  the  agreements  of  said  officials,  showing  a  clear  intent  to  use 
the  United  States  Court  and  its  officials  for  dishonorable  purposes.  It 
is  charged  by  Mr.  Hoxie  in  previous  statements  that  the  agreement  of 
March  15,  1885,  has  been  violated  by  the  employes.  Said  agreement  is 
published  in  the  morning  papers  of  March  22,  and  we  ask  any  intelli- 
gent person  to  read  with  care  and  note  if  it  be  possible  for  the  em- 
ployes to  violate  any  provisions  of  said  agreement,  be  they  never  so 
desirous,  and  that  for  the  sole  reason  that  it  is  an  agreement  on  the 
part  of  the  company  to  do  certain  things,  but  requiring  nothing  what- 
ever of  the  employes. 

"  But  why  should  we  say  more  ?  If  Mr.  Hoxie  does  not  know  that 
he  was  guilty  of  gross  wrong  and  injustice,  why  would  he  refuse  to 
listen  to  our  evidence  and  hear  our  appeal  for  redress  ?  Why  would  he 
shelter  himself  behind  subterfuges  and  technicalities  ?  Why  would  he 
refuse  to  treat  with  the  men  he  has  wronged,  and  with  evasive  letters 
to  Governors  who  cannot  posssibly  enter  into  the  merits  of  the  con- 
troversy ?  The  truth  is  simply  this :  Mr.  Hoxie  wanted  trouble.  He 
has  provoked  it.  He  is  still  inciting  it  and  making  an  innocent  public 
pay  the  price  of  his  perfidy.  How  long  will  the  public  consent  for 
Gould  and  Hoxie  thus  to  rule  or  ruin  ?     We  wait  to  see. 

"  By  order  of  the  Executive  Board  of  District  Assembly  101." 

It  is  an  error  to  charge,  that  the  Governors  visited  Kansas  City  to 
confer  with  the  Knights  of  Labor.  One  of  them  assuredly  did  not 
know  that  Mr.  Powderly.and  the  Executive  Committee  of  District 
Assembly  ]S"o.  101  were  in  Kansas  City,  and  the  interview  was  brought 
about  at  their  own  solicitation.  Mr.  Frank  Betton,  Labor  Commissioner 

l  s — 4. 


50  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

of  Kansas,  through  whom  the  interview  was  obtained,  in  a  paper 
(heretofore  referred  to)  read  before  the  National  Convention  of  Bureaus 
of  Labor,  1886,  says : 

"  In  answer  to  the  first  charge,  I  will  say  that  the  Governor  of 
Kansas  visited  Kansas  City  by  invitation  of  the  Governor  of  Missouri 
to  confer  with  him  regarding  the  strike,  and  that  the  interview  with  the 
committee  was  brought  about  at  the  request  of  the  committee  itself. 

"  In  answer  to  the  second  charge,  I  will  say  that  the  Governors 
absolutely  refused  to  visit  St.  Louis  unless  the  committee  placed  its 
cause  entirely  in  their  hands,  and  agreed  to  abide  by  whatever  arrange- 
ment they  succeeded  in  making.  This  the  members  of  the  committee 
finally  agreed  to  do  after  they  had  had  several  private  conferences. 

"  As  to  the  third  charge,  the  Governor  of  Kansas  received  but  one 
complaint  of  breach  of  the  contract  of  1885,  and  this  upon  investiga- 
tion proved  to  be  without  foundation. 

"  In  my  jugement,  had  the  Executive  Committee  kept  faith  with 
the  Governors,  and  accepted  the  terms  they  succeeded  in  obtaining, 
most  of  the  men  would  have  been  re-employed,  and  much  misery  and 
want  avoided." 

The  18th  and  19th  of  March  developed  several  acts  of  lawlessness 
in  Texas.  Railroad  bridges  were  burned  and  at  least  one  passenger 
train  was  derailed.  In  all  cases  of  lawlessness  the  Knights  of  Labor 
were  the  first  to  denounce  them  and  disclaim  any  complicity.  Never- 
theless numbers  of  strikers  were  arrested  by  the  United  States  mar- 
shals, charging  them  with  obstructing  the  execution  of  the  processes  of 
the  courts,  and  armed  bodies  of  citizens,  with  blood  hounds,  began  ac- 
tive pursuit  of  the  wreckers  and  bridge  burners.  In  view  of  this 
alarming  state  of  affairs,  the  following  circular  was  issued  on  the  19th, 
at  Marshall. 
"  To  the  Law-abiding  Citizens  of  Harrison  County,  Texas. 

"  The  time  has  arrived  when  those  who  class  themselves  as  in- 
cluded in  the  above  caption,  whether  members  of  secret  organizations 
or  not,  should  come  promptly  forward  and  by  their  deeds,  not  simply 
words,  align  themselves  with  the  sworn  officers  of  the  government  to 
preserve  order,  suppress  violence  and  aid  in  carrying  out  the  mandate 
of  the  United  States  Circuit  Court.  The  indisputable  fact  that  an  at- 
tempt was  made  on  last  Monday  night  to  burn  a  bridge  on  the  Texas  & 
Pacific  Road,  just  east  of  Marshall,  and  again  last  night  the  drawing  of 
spikes  from  the  track  which  caused  the  derailment  of  passenger  train 
No.  305  this  morning,  about  one  and  one-half  miles  west  of  Marshall, 
are  acts  too  diabolitical  to  comtemplate.     Will  the  honest  working-men 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR    STATISTICS.  51 


of  Marshall,  irrespective   of  all  considerations  except  the  preservation 

of    law  and  order,  stand  supinely  by  and  thereby  give    sanction   to 

such  acts  which  endanger  the  lives  of  innocent  and  defenceless  women 

and  children,  by  fiends  who  are  a  disgrace  to  mankind  ! 

[Signed.]  "  E.  B.  WHEELER, 

"General  Agent  for  the  Receivers." 
"  R.  B.  REAGAN, 

"  United  States  Marshall." 

hi  the  meantime  the  citizens  of  Texas  in  all  important  towns  were 
holding  mass  meetings  and  passing  resolutions  condemnatory  of  the 
strike.  These  were  met  by  counter-resolutions  on  the  part  of  the 
Knights  of  Labor.  Gov.  Ireland,  of  Texas,  offered  rewards  of  $500 
each  for  the  arrest  and  conviction  of  the  persons  who  removed  the 
rail  on  the  Texas  &  Pacific  Road  on  the  17th  of  March  and  burned  two 
bridges  on  the  night  of  the  18th.  Injunctions  were  served  against  the 
strikers  at  Atchison  and  other  points  in  Kansas,  and  sheriffs  were  en- 
gaged in  swearing  in  and  arming  of  citizens  as  deputies  at  the  princi- 
pal places  on  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  lines  in  Missouri. 

Mr.  Powderly  Lad  departed  for  Canada.  During  his  stay  at  Kansas 
City,  at  his  request,  he  was  furnished  with  a  copy  of  the  grievances  of 
the  employes  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company.  It  was  as 
follows  : 

"The  company  failed  to  live  up  to  the  terms  of  the  agreement 
made  March  15,  1885,  by  the  Governors  of  Missouri  and  Kansas  and 
the  railroad  company,  and  the  subsequent  agreement  by  the  railroad 
company  and  the  employes,  every  article  of  which  has  been  violated  to 
a  great  extent  by  the  management  of  the  Missouri  Pacific.  Committees 
have  been  sent  to  Mr.  Hoxie  by  the  men  to  adjust  the  differences  ex- 
isting between  them  and  the  company.  These  committees  were  ignored 
or  would  not  be  given  a  hearing,  or  when  seen  would  be  put  off  with 
promises  which  were  never  fulfilled.  Time  and  again  the  men  visited 
Mr.  Hoxie  without  being  able  to  effect  a  settlement  of  the  difficulties. 
Men  were  discharged  without  notice,  in  violation  of  the  agreement  re- 
quiring thirty  days'  notice  to  be  given,  and  in  violation  of  the  agreement 
which  plainly  states  :  '  Should  the  company  find  it  necessary  to  reduce 
expenses,  said  reduction  must  be  in  the  number  of  hours,  and  not  by 
the  discharge  of  emplo3Tes.'  Mr.  Hoxie,  when  this  violation  was 
brought  to  his  notice,  said  he  would  do  just  as  he  saw  fit  about  that. 
contract  or  no  contract.  An  entire  force  of  section  men  were  dis- 
charged because  they  were  Knights  of  Labor.     When  the  matter  was 


52  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 


submitted  to  the  officials  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  they  claimed  that  the 
shopmen  only  were  covered  by  the  terms  of  the  agreement,  which 
claim  is  absurd  as  the  agreement  includes  all  the  employes  of  the  com- 
pany. The  company  refused  to  treat  with  any  employes  other  than 
shopmen.  The  working  hours  of  the  section  men  were  so  re- 
duced that  they  could  earn  but  fifty-five  cents  per  day,  and  in  stormy 
weather  their  earnings  were  reduced  still  more.  Nearly  all  of  these 
men  have  families  to  support  on  this  pittance.  They  were  often  com- 
pelled to  go  long  distances  from  home  to  work  and  remain  some  time. 
Their  board  bills  alone  exceeded  their  earnings  from  $1  to  $3  per 
month.  They  were  not  permitted  to  go  home  until  their  work  was 
completed.  On  one  occasion  the  men  were  taken  400  miles  from  home, 
and  were  not  allowed  time  going  and  returning  from  work.  Mr.  Hoxie 
refused  to  increase  the  pay  of  these  men  as  per  agreement.  Represen- 
tatives of  several  railroads  held  a  meeting  at  St.  Louis  March  13, 1886, 
to  consider  grievances  of  employes,  and  agreed  to  increase  the  wages 
of  unskilled  workingmen  to  11.50  per  day.  Mr.  Hoxie  was  not  present 
at  said  meeting.  On  the  following  Monday,  the  loth,  another  meeting 
was  held,  which  Mr.  Hoxie  attended.  The  action  of  the  previous 
meeting  was  reconsidered.  Notwithstanding  the  statement  made  by 
the  managers  on  the  13th,  that  the  demands  were  reasonable  and  just, 
it  was  decided  that  the  railway  companies  would  not  confer  with  or  re- 
ceive any  committee  nor  entertain  any  requests  or  demands  from  other 
than  individual  employes. 

"  In  order  to  build  shops  at  Atchison  the  wages  of  the  men  em- 
ployed there  were  reduced.  The  improvements  are  to  cost  $52,000, 
and  the  money  comes  out  of  the  employes.  The  Missouri  Pacific  and 
tli?'  central  branch  of  the  Union  Pacific  had  about  eighty  engines  at 
this  place  for  repairs,  but  removed  them  to  the  Cypress  yards  at 
Kansas  City,  thereby  reducing  the  working  hours  at  Atchison.  This 
was  done  after  the  agreement  one  year  ago. 

"  Bridgemen  have  been  out  on  the  line  thirty-six  hours,  and  re- 
ceived pay  for  ten  hours,  the  balance  of  the  time  being  consumed  in 
going  to  and  from  the  work.  These  men  receive  $2.60  per  day  for 
the  best  men,  and  this  is  only  since  the  trouble  on  the  Texas  &  Pacific. 
The  employes  being  unable  to  get  a  hearing  at  the  headquarters  of 
the  Missouri  Pacific,  submitted  the  matter  to  the  local  assemblies  of 
Knights  of  Labor  in  the  district,  and  it  was  unanimously  resolved  to 
quit  work. 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  ~>'o 

"  Mr.  Hoxie  has  refused  to  arbitrate  or  confer  with  any  committee 
whatever,  hence  the  present  trouble  on  these  lines. 

"  F.  G.  ELLS, 
"Secretary  District  Assemby  107." 

This  matter  is  only  alluded  to  here  to  illustrate  the  varied  and  dis- 
similar character  of  the  demands  made  upon  the  Missouri  Pacific  road. 
The  allegation  that  there  was  an  agreement  whereby  the  Missouri 
Pacific  Bailway  Company  bound  itself  to  give  thirty  days'  notice  before 
discharging  an  employ  is  not  supported  by  the  record.  Neither  does 
it  appear  that  the  section  men  alluded  to  were  discharged  because  they 
were  Knights  of  Labor.  So  far  as  is  ascertainable,  the  bridgemen  in 
the  employ  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  never  presented  any  grievances  to 
the  management  of  that  system,  and  as  a  class  never  struck.  To  add 
to  the  complications  already  existing,  the  switchmen  of  the  Chicago  & 
Alton ;  Eock  Island  ;  Wabash;  Missouri  Pacific ;  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  ; 
Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph  &  Council  Bluffs ;  Burlington  &  Missouri 
Eiver  ;  Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe  ;  Union  Pacific,  and  Kansas  City, 
Fort  Scott  &  Gulf  Eailroads,  numbering  two  hundred  and  thirty  per- 
sons, struck  at  Kansas  City  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  March,  and 
the  strike  enforced  idleness  upon  one  hundred  and  fifty  engineers  and 
as  many  firemen.  No  trains  were  allowed  to  depart,  and  all  traffic 
came  to  a  standstill.  This  strike  appears  not  to  have  been  ordered  by 
the  Knights  of  Labor,  but  grew  out  of  a  misunderstanding  whereby 
switchmen  at  Kansas  City  were  to  receive  the  same  wages  as  were 
paid  at  Chicago. 

The  round-house  at  Big  Springs,  Texas,  was  fired  on  the  night  of 
the  21st,  and  about  $60,000  worth  of  property  destroyed.  That  the 
,  strikers  were  engaged  in  this  outrage  is  only  inferential.  While  round- 
houses were  broken  into  and  machinery  stolen  and  destroyed,  shops 
burned,  bridges  burned,  tracks  torn  up  and  trains  forcibly  detained, 
with  cruel  sarcasm  the  Knights  of  Labor  at  St.  Louis  were  demanding 
that  the  railway  companies  perform  their  duties  according  to  their 
charter  privileges  and  resume  commerce.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed 
that  during  all  this  time  the  railroad  officials  were  inactive.  On  the 
contrary,  they  were  pertinaciously  day  after  day  attempting  to  move 
their  trains,  but  with  varying  success.  In  many  places  men  were  ap- 
plying for  work  and  were  being  received  in  place  of  the  strikers,  and 
in  a  degree  traffic  was  in  some  localities  being  resumed.  This  only 
maddened  the  baffled  strikers  at  points  where  they  were  most  numer- 
ous, and  they  became  bolder  in  their  operations.     After  the  failure  of 


54  BUREAU    OF   LABOR    STATISTICS. 

the  two  Governors  to  effect  a  settlement,  and  their  announcement  that 
there  was  no  just  cause  for  a  strike,  citizens  from  Galveston  to  Kansas, 
in  public  meetings,  began  to  express  their  sympathies  with  the  railroads, 
and  denounce  the  excesses  of  the  Knights  of  Labor.  Such  actions 
only  served  to  exasperate  the  men  engaged  in  the  strike,  and  while  it 
would  be  unfair  to  charge  acts  of  outrage  and  violence  to  the  Knights 
of  Labor  as  an  organization,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  their  constant  recur- 
rence could  only  be  attributed  to  the  more  lawless  individuals  among 
their  number.  Trains  at  St.  Louis  on  the  23d  were  prevented  by  vio- 
lence from  departing. 

At  Sedalia  on  the  same  afternoon  an  attempt  was  made  to 
break  the  blockade.  A  freight  train,  in  addition  to  its  usual  com- 
plement of  men,  had  on  board  officer  Mason  and  special  policeman 
Neil,  started,  and  had  reached  a  crossing  about  three  miles 
from  the  city,  when  it  was  boarded  by  several  men.  Torpedos  were 
exploded  and  the  train  ditched.  Mason  had  an  arm  and  Neil  a  leg 
broken ;  Superintendent  Frey  and  Trainmaster  Lyon  were  badly  bruised. 
Conductor  Spangler  was  hurled  through  the  window  of  the  caboose, 
but  was  not  dangerously  hurt,  while  detective  John  DeLong  was  also 
injured.  Investigation  showed  that  fish-plates  and  bolts  had  been  re- 
moved by  skillful  hands.  At  Atchison,  Kansas,  on  the  morning  of  the 
23d,  a  mob  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  masked  men  entered  the  Central 
Branch  shops,  forced  the  fifteen  watchmen  employed  there  into  the 
oil-house,  threw  a  suggestive  piece  of  crape  in  after  them,  and  then 
proceeded  to  disable  all  the  engines  in  the  round-house  by  bending  the 
valve-stems  and  stealing  the  link-lifters.  A  freight  train  was  also  cap- 
tured and  the  fires  withdrawn,  as  was  also  a  switch-engine,  which  had 
been  heretofore  unmolested.  At  Denison  and  Sherman,  Texas,  troubles 
occurred  by  large  bodies  of  men  uncoupling  cars  and  killing  engines. 

On  the  24th  of  March  scenes  of  violent  excitement  occurred  in  St. 
Louis.  A  switch-engine  was  killed.  A  freight  train  under  special  po- 
lice protection  was.  after  difficulties,  successfully  moved.  The  angry 
crowd  of  strikers  then  made  an  assault  upon  the  shops  of  the  Missouri 
Pacific,  but  was  repulsed,  one  police  officer  being  severely  wounded 
by  a  stone.  But  with  the  moving  of  the  train  the  backbone  of  the 
strike  was  broken  and  gradually  thereafter  traffic  was  being  resumed. 

At  this  stage  of  proceedings  the  Knights  of  Labor  at  St.  Louis  .en- 
deavored to  enlist  the  sympathy  and  support  of  the  business  men  of 
that  city,  and  for  that  purpose  a  meeting  of  merchants,  etc.,  was  called. 
On  the  24th,  at  a  joint  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Mer- 
chants' Exchange  and  the  Merchants'  Transportation  Committee,  the 
following  paper  was  submitted  and  unanimously  adopted  : 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR    STATISTICS.  55 


"The  Board  of  Directors  and  the  Transportation  Committee  of  tlie 
Merchant's  Exchange,  in  joint 'meeting'  assembled,  recognizing  the  im- 
mense loss  to  the  trade  of  this  city  by  the  suspension  of  traffic  on  the 
Southwestern  System,  demand  that  the  strike  now  throttling  the  com- 
merce of  several  States  and  checking  the  slowly  returning  prosperity 
of  the  whole  country  after  three  years  of  depression  shall  cease.  We 
demand  this  in  the  interest  of  labor,  because,  if  continued  or  extended 
it  must  deprive  thousands  not  engaged  in  the  present  strike  of  wages 
with  which  they  are  satisfied. 

"  It  will  force  merchants  and  manufacturers,  who  have  prepared 
for  the  spring  trade,  into  bankruptcy  and  enforce  the  discharge  of  large 
numbers  of  laborers,  besides  preventing  future  undertakings,  involving 
the  employment  of  capital  and  labor,  it  will,  by  depriving  labor  of 
employment,  lessen  the  ability  to  buy,  and  increase  the  cost  of  the 
necessaries  of  life  in  the  cities,  where  wage  laborers  congregate. 
*  "  It  will  ruin  such  farmers  as  are  dependent  on  prompt  transporta- 
tion of  perishable  products,  and  of  fruit  trees,  seeds,  and  tools  required 
at  this  season.  It  will  suspend  mining  and  deprive  the  country  of  the 
direct  collateral  benefits  thereof.  These  are  some  of  the  material  dam- 
ages of  a  continuance  of  the  strike.  The  moral  effect  will  be  to  till  the 
country  with  tramps  and  outlaws  ready  at  all  times  to  take  advantage 
of  the  disturbed  conditions  to  disgrace  the  name  of  labor.  While  we 
believe  in  the  right  to  quit  work,  we  do  not  concede  the  right  to  pre- 
vent others  from  working,  and  the  ability  and  right  to  employ  must  in- 
clude the  right  to  discharge ;  under  free  government,  whether  labor  or 
employment  can  be  compelled.  The  strike  has  been  conceded  by  some 
of  the  principals  to  have  been  a  blunder.  The  Governors  of  two  States, 
after  investigation,  declare  it  was  without  cause.  It  has  led  to  lawless 
acts,  by  which  property  has  been  damaged  and  blood  spilled,  and  estab- 
lished a  veritable  reign  of  terror.  The  continuance  can  only  lead  to 
further  crime  and  destruction  of  life  and  property. 

"  With  this  view  of  existing  and  prospective  conditions  we  demand 
of  the  strikers  to  resume  work  or  to  keep  out  of  the  way  and  cease  in- 
timidating others  who  may  be  willing  to  work,  and  we  invoke  the  civil 
and  military  powers  of  the  cities,  counties  and  State,  and,  if  necessary, 
of  the  United  States,  to  preserve  law  and  order,  which  will  put  an  end 
to  the  present  unbearable  conditions. 

"  While  expressing  these  plain  sentiments  on  the  present  situation, 
we  desire  to  express  our  sympathy  with  all  wageworkers,  and  our  will- 
ingness to  do  anything  in  our  power  to  improve  their  condition.  Let 
the  prosperity  of  the  country  return,  and  then,  if  labor  does  not  fairly 


56  BUREAU    OF   LABOR    STATISTICS. 

participate  in  the  improvement,  we  will  be  ready  to  help  in  the  extent 
of  all  the  influence  and  power  we  can  exercise.  While  these  plain 
words  are  addressed  to  the  strikers,  we  must  say  to  the  managers  of 
the  railroads  involved  :  Treat  your  late  employes  with  consideration. 
Make  them  satisfied  to  work  faithfully  for  your  interests,  and  more 
disposed  to  strike  for  than  against  you.  Consider  fairly  all  their  griev- 
ances. Let  them  feel  that  they  are  participating  in  your  prosperity, 
and  then  do  your  part  towards  protecting  the  community  against 
further  calamity. 

On  the  same  day  a  monster  mass-meeting  of  merchants  and  manu- 
facturers was  held  at  the  Mercantile  Club,  and  was  presided  over  by 
Mr.  M.  J.  Lippman,  with  Mr.  John  E.  Holmes  as  secretary.  Upon 
taking  the  chair  the  presiding  officer  used  this  language : 

"  The  meeting  has  been  called  for  the  purpose  of  expressing  our 
views  in  the  most  emphatic  manner,  and  declaring  that  the  blockade 
on  the  commerce  of  the  city  shall  and  must  be  raised — peaceably,  if 
possible,  forcibly,  if  necessary.  ^Ye  do  not  propose  to  discuss  the 
causes  of  the  strike,  nor  to  take  sides,  but  we  will  not  submit  to  ter- 
rorism and  anarchy.     The  trains  must  run." 

Resolutions  which  had  been  previously  prepared  and  circulated 
for  signatures  were  taken  up,  discussed  and  unanimously  adopted. 
They  were  as  follows : 

"Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  the  merchants  and  manufac- 
turers of  St.  Louis  the  strike  on  the  Missouri  Pacific  System  has 
ceased  to  be  merely  a  question  between  employers  and  employed,  and 
has  become  a  matter  of  national  importance,  involving  great  questions 
of  right  and  wrong,  in  the  settlement  of  which  four  States  are  vitally 
interested,  and  on  the  right  solution  of  which  may  depend  the  very 
integrity  of  the  republic,  and  certainly  the  maintenance  of  the  principle 
of  freedom  and  the  rights  of  persons  and  property  upon  which  our 
government  is  founded.  In  view  of  this,  we  believe  it  to  be  the  duty 
of  all  good  citizens  to  refuse  to  be  silent  when  justice,  peace,  order 
and  liberty  of  action  are  threatened,  and  that  it  is  peculiarly  the  duty 
of  the  mercantile  and  manufacturing  communities  to  protest  against 
a  state  of  affairs  which  is  working  ruin  to  the  commercial,  industrial 
and  laboring  interests  of  St.  Louis  and  of  the  southwest. 

"Resolved,  That  while  we  recognize  to  the  fullest  extent  the  right 
of  all  men  to  organize  for  mutual  protection  and  all  legitimate  and  law- 
ful purposes,  and  to  unitedly  abandon  employment  when  they  see  fit, 
we  denounce  as  tyrannical,  unjust  and  illegal  any  attempt  to  interfere 
with  the  rights  of  others  to  such  employment,  or  to  prevent  by  vio- 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  57 


lence  or  secret  or  open  intimidation,  the  exercise  of  their  rights,  and 
we  denounce  also  any  and  all  interference  with  the  rights  of  property, 
with  the  rights  of  the  public  to  the  unrestricted  use  of  the  railways 
of  the  country,  and  any  unlawful  dictation  from  any  source  as  to  how 
the  business  of  citizens  or  corporations  shall  be  conducted,  and  all 
similar  efforts  to  destroy  the  freedom  of  action,  or  to  control  the 
property  of  others,  believing-  them  to  be  subversive  of  every  principle 
upon  which  free  government  and  free  institutions  are  founded,  and  to 
be  equally  destructive  to  the  rights  of  rich  and  poor,  employers  and 
employed,  and  to  threaten  the  very  foundations  of  society. 

"Resolved,  That  in  this  crisis,  as  we  esteem  it,  we  call  upon  all 
good  citizens,  all  business  exchanges  and  business  organizations,  and 
especially  upon  all  wageworkers,  to  rally  to  the  support  of  law  and  order, 
and  to  express  their  convictions  fearlessly  on  the  question  at  isssue, 
which  is :  Shall  the  laws  be  enforced  which  guarantee  to  owners  of 
property  that  they  may  control  it,  and  to  those  who  seek  work,  that 
they  may  accept  it  1 

"Resolved,  That  we  demand  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Sys- 
tem that  freight  traffic  be  resumed  at  once,  and  that  we  demand  also 
of  the  municipal  and  State  authorities  that  protection  to  the  full  ex- 
tent of  the  power  of  the  city  and  the  State  be  afforded  in  such  resump- 
tion. 

"Resolved,  That  we  pledge  to  the  authorities  our  support  in  up- 
holding law  and  order,  and  in  the  protection  of  life  and  property." 

Notwithstanding  these  emphatic  utterances  of  business  men  all 
over  the  system,  the  work  of  destruction  and  intimidation  was  contin- 
ued, no  less  than  five  engines  being  killed  on  that  day,  the  24th,  in  the 
yards  at  St.  Louis  alone.  Engines  were  also  killed  at  Omaha,  Ne- 
braska, 

Governor  Marmaduke,  of  Missouri,  issued  the  following  proclama- 
tion : 

"  proclamation. 

"  Executive  Department, 
City  of  Jefferson,  March  24,  1886. 

"The  internal  commerce  of  the  State  of  Missouri  is  carried  on  almost 
entirely  by  railroad.  These  roads  are  owned  by  private  corporations 
belonging  to  that  class  of  persons  whose  property  is  subject  to  a  public 
use,  and  that  use  is,  in  this  case,  as  a  thoroughfare  or  public  highway, 
as  defined  in  section  14,  article  12  of  our  State  Constitution.     Railroad 


58  BUREAU    OF    LABOR    STATISTICS. 

companies  are  declared  by  the  same  section  of  the  Constitution  to  be 
'  common  carriers.'  As  such  it  is  their  duty  to  receive  all  passengers 
and  freight  that  are  offered,  transport  the  same  with  reasonable  dis- 
patch, and,  in  general  terms,  to  deliver  them  uninjured  at  their  point  of 
destination.  In  order  that  these  public  highways  may  be  opened  and 
these  common  carriers  established  in  business  upon  them,  the  State 
has  granted  to  these  companies  the  privileges  of  incorporation,  where- 
by their  stockholders,  after  paying  in  the  par  value  of  their  stock,  are 
exempt  from  any  further  pecuniary  liability  to  the  company  or  to  its 
creditors,  no  matter  what  amount  of  debt  maybe  incurred  by  it.  They 
are  also  authorized  to  issue  stock  to  the  full  amount  of  the  cost  of  their 
property  and  a  bonded  debt  to  an  equal  amount  more.  In  addition, 
the  State  and  its  lesser  public  corporations,  such  as  cities,  counties 
and  townships,  have  subsidized  these  companies  so  liberally  that  in 
some  localities  debts  were  created  therefor,  to  pay  which  generations 
to  come  wiil  have  to  be  taxed.  To  crown  all,  the  State  has  exerted  in 
their  favor  its  right  of  eminent  domain  by  condemning  private  property 
for  their  use,  which  act  alone  stamps  their  property  with  an  indelible 
mark  signifying  devoted  to  a  public  use. 

"In  return  for  all  these  privileges,  immunities  and  favors,  the 
State  claims  nothing,  except  that  her  people  shall  have  the  use  of  the 
transportation  facilities  thus  created  and  provided,  in  the  manner  indi- 
cated by  their  constitutional  and  other  legal  rights.  The  right  to  the 
enjoyment  of  this  use  by  the  people  is  paramount,  ought  to  be,  and 
shall  be  respected.  The  railroad  companies  themselves  have,  by  accept- 
ing these  conditions,  assumed  the  responsibility  of  securing  to  the 
people  this  enjoyment.  Every  stockholder  in  these  companies  has 
knowingly  assumed  his  share  of  that  responsibility,  and  every  employe, 
from  president  to  trackmen,  has  knowingly  entered  a  service  on 
which  this  responsibility  rests,  and  has  voluntarily  assumed  the  actual 
performance  of  a  part  of  the  duties  incident  thereto. 

••  The  lines  operated  by  the  Missouri  Pacific  Eailway  Company 
carry  nearly  one-third  of  the  railroad  traffic  of  the  State  of  Missouri. 
On  these  lines  no  freight  has  been  moved  during  the  last  seventeen 
days.  Thousands  of  tons  are  stopped  in  transit,  and  the  people  are 
consequently  suffering  enormous  inconvenience,  damage  and  loss. 
This  is  caused  by  a  refusal  of  a  part  of  the  employes  of  said  company 
to  perform  their  duties  or  to  allow  others  to  take  their  places.  It  is 
alleged  that  there  are  unsettled  grievances  of  some  sort  between  them 
and  the  chief  executive  officers,  which  is  to  say.  that  there  is  some  dis- 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  59 


agreement  between  two  classes  of  the  employes  of  the  same  company.  In 
the  eye  of  the  law  they  are  all  component  parts  of  the  same  organization, 
and  they  must  settle  whatever  differences  there  may  be  among  them- 
selves in  some  other  way  than  by  inflicting  upon  the  people  of  the 
State  the  incalculable  injury  which  this  stoppage  of  the  freight  traffic 
involves. 

"  Wherefore,  I,  John  S.  Marmadnke,  Governor  of  the  State  of 
Missouri,  by  virtue  of  the  authority  in  me  vested,  do  hereby  call  upon 
the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company,  and  upon  all  its  officers,  agents 
and  employes  of  every  grade,  each  in  their  several  capacities,  to  assist 
in  resuming  traffic  of  all  kinds,  in  the  usual  way,  on  all  railroad  lines 
operated  by  said  company  in  Missouri,  and  I  warn  all  persons,  whether 
they  be  employes  or  not,  against  interposing  any  obstacle  whatever  in 
the  way  of  said  resumption  ;  and  with  a  firm  reliance  upon  the  courage, 
good  sense  and  law-abiding  spirt  of  the  people,  I  hereby  call  upon  all 
good  citizens  to  assist  in  carrying  out  the  purposes  of  this  proclama- 
tion ;  and  I  also  hereby  pledge  the  whole  power  of  the  State,  so  far  as 
it  may  be  lawfully  wielded  by  its  chief  executive  officer,  to  sustain  said 
company  and  its  servants  in  said  resumption,  and  to  restrain  and 
punish  all  that  may  oppose  it. 

"In  testimony  whereof,  I  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  cause  to  be 
affixed  the  great  seal  of  the  State  of  Missouri.  Done  at  the  City  of 
Jefferson,  this  24th  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1880. 

"  JOHN  S.  MARMADUKE. 

"  By  the  Governor : 

"  Michl.  K.  McGrath, 

"  Secretary  of  State." 

The  proclamation  issued  by  Governor  Marmadnke  is  significant  in 
this:  That  it  clearly  points  out  and  defines  the  duties  of  all  employes 
of  corporations.  No  distinction  is  made  between  the  president  and 
directors  of  the  railway  corporation  and  the  sub-employes.  Under  their 
charter  individuality  ceases,  and  all,  in  whatever  degree,  become  em- 
ployes of  the  corporation,  and  are  alike  responsible  to  the  State.  The 
proclamation  simply  declares  that  because  of  a  dispute  between  two 
classes  of  employes  the  State  and  the  public  shall  not  suffer. 

On  the  25th  of  March  Governor  Martin,  of  Kansas,  issued  the  fol- 
lowing proclamation  : 


60  BUREAU   OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 


"  State  of  Kansas, 
Executive  Department, 
Topeka,  March  25,  1886. 

"  To  the  Sheriffs,  County  Attorneys  and  other  Peace  Officers  of  the  State 
of  Kansas : 

"  Kansas  has  no  waterways  within  in  its  borders ;  its  interstate 
and  internal  commerce  is  carried  by  its  railways.  The  railways  are 
common  carriers,  and  the  prosperity  of  the  State  and  the  interests  and 
welfare  of  its  people,  farmers,  mechanics,  merchants,  manufacturers, 
laborers  and  all  others  are  dependent  upon  the  uninterrupted  operation 
of  the  railway  lines  of  the  State.  The  interruption  of  these  great 
arteries  of  commerce  is  a  disaster  to  all,  and  hence  is  the  concern  of 
all.  The  operation  is  vitally  essential  to  every  commercial,  industrial 
and  agricultural  interest  of  the  people,  and  hence  not  only  the  greatest 
good  to  the  greatest  number,  but  the  greatest  good  to  each  individual 
citizen,  is  subserved  by  their  uninterrupted  operation. 

"We  are  now  in  the  third  week  of  the  most  serious  business  dis- 
aster that  has  ever  befallen  our  State.  The  forcible  stoppage  of  trans- 
portation along  the  lines  of  railroads  touches  the  interests  of  a  third  of 
the  people  of  Kansas,  several  hundred  thousand  in  number.  Supplies 
of  food  and  fuel  are  cut  off  in  many  localities.  Farmers,  mechanics 
and  manufacturers  are  prevented  from  selling  and  shipping  their  stock 
and  goods,  and  from  paying  thousands  of  laborers  hitherto  in  their 
employ.  Thus  the  strike  of  a  few  railroad  men  cripples  and  stops  the 
business  and  industry  of  great  masses  of  our  people. 

"  The  cause  of  the  difficulty  it  is  not  our  province  to  determine.  We 
live  in  a  law-abiding  State,  and  are  the  servants  of  law  ;  corporations 
and  the  people  must  alike  obey  the  law.  As  new  grievances  arise  new 
legislative  remedies  will  be  found  and  adopted,  but  we  must  act  under, 
and  obey  and  enforce  the  laws  we  have.  Those  who  violate  the  laws 
should  be  arrested  and  brought  before  the  courts  for  trial  and  pun- 
ishment. 

"The  stopping  of  transportation  and  the  stagnation  of  business 
have  endured  long  enough.  The  wheels  of  industry  must  be  put  in 
motion.  No  one  class  of  men  have  any  right  in  law  or  equity,  common 
sense  or  justice,  to  paralyze  the  business  of  the  country,  to  work  dis- 
aster to  the  tiller  of  the  soil,  to  close  the  mills  and  factories  of  the 
State,  and  to  throw  thousands  of  workingmen  engaged  in  every  de- 
partment of  human  activity  out  of  employment.  The  rights  of  the 
many  cannot  be  yielded  to  the  claims  of  the  few.  The  men  engaged  in 
this  '  strike '  may  have  just  grievances  ;  they  may  be  the  victims  of  cor- 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  61 

porate  greed  and  power,  but  this  fact  does  not  justify  lawlessness  or 
turbulence,  or  the  destruction  of  property,  or  the  forcible  stoppage  of 
the  transportation  lines  of  the  State,  and  the  resulting  loss  or  wrong  to 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  people  in  no  wise  responsible  for  the  contro- 
versy between  the  railway  company  and  its  employes. 

"The  people  of  Kansas,  acting  through  their  representatives,  can 
be  relied  on  to  see  that  the  just  grievances  of  any  class  of  citizens,  or 
any  wrongs  done  by  corporate  power,  are  redressed  and  prevented  by 
law.  The  laws  of  Kansas,  in  so  far  as  the  interests  of  her  workingmen 
are  involved,  are  more  liberal  than  those  of  any  other  State  in  the 
Union.  The  Legislature  at  its  last  session  enacted  a  law,  the  object  of 
which  was  to  settle  conflicts  between  employers  and  employes  by 
peaceful  and  honorable  arbitration.  Kansas  has  taken  the  lead  on 
many  great  questions  affecting  the  rights  or  interests  of  her  work- 
ingmen. 

"  I  therefore  call  upon  all  sheriffs,  county  attorneys,  and  other 
peace  officers  to  discharge  their  duties  under  the  law,  to  preserve  the 
peace,  to  protect  the  property,  to  see  that  the  commerce  of  the  State 
is  not  interrupted  by  violence  or  lawless  acts,  and  to  arrest  and  bring- 
before  the  courts  for  trial  and  punishment  all  who  are  guilty  of  any 
violation  of  law.  In  the  discharge  of  this  duty  you  have  power  to  call 
upon  every  citizen  to  aid  you,  and  I  appeal  to  all  law-respecting  citizens 
to  support  your  authority,  to  the  end  that  order  may  be  restored,  that 
commerce  of  the  State  may  be  resumed,  and  that  industry  and  pros- 
perity may  take  the  place  of  unseemly  feud,  business  stagnation,  and 
industrial  paralysis.  All  the  lawful  authority  of  the  State  will  be  ex- 
erted to  support  local  officers  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  thus  en- 
joined upon  them,  and  all  persons  are  hereby  warned  against  inter- 
posing any  obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  officers  of  the  law,  or  obstruct- 
ing the  lines  of  transportation  on  which  the  commerce  of  the  State 
is -carried. 

"  In  testimony  whereof,  I  hereunto  set  my  hand,  and  cause  to  be  af- 
fixed the  great  seal  of  the  State  of  Kansas.  Done  at  the  city  of  To- 
peka,  tli is  25th  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1886 

"  By  the  Governor.  *  "JOHX  A.  MARTIN. 

"  E.  B.  Allen,  Secretary  of  State." 

On  the  same  day,  March  25,  Governor  Ireland,  of  Texas,  issued  his 
proclamation  as  follows : 

"  Whereas,  it  has  been  made  known  to  me  that  disturbances,  ir- 
regularities and  violations  of  law  are  of  frequent  occurrence  on  various 


62  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

railroads  in  this  State ;  that  trains  carrying  freight  and  passengers  are 
interfered  with  by  persons  having  no  connection  with  said  roads  ;  that 
bridges  have  been  burned,  spikes  have  been  withdrawn,  and  trains  de- 
railed, to  the  great  detriment  of  commerce  and  travel  and  the  placing 
of  life  in  great  peril.  It  is  said  that  this  condition  of  affairs  on  the  rail- 
way lines  has  been  brought  about  by  the  organization  known  as  the 
Knights  of  Labor,  and  that  the  persons  engaged  in  these  lawless  deeds 
are  members  of  that  order. 

"  Whether  this  is  true  or  not,  it  is  hardly  credible  that  this  order, 
or  the  best  element  of  it,  can  countenance  the  violation  of  the  law  men- 
tioned. Employes  have  the  unquestioned  moral  and  legal  right  to 
quit  the  service  of  their  employers  whenever  their  employment  is  not 
remunerative  and  satisfactory,  provided  such  action  does  not  violate 
their  contract  ;  but  when  they  quit  and  sever  their  relations  it  is  the 
duty  of  those  quitting  to  get  out  of  the  way,  and  leave  any  others  who 
may  wish  to  take  the  service  abandoned  free  to  do  so.  Intimidation  of, 
or  interference  with,  persons  desiring  to  work  is  a  gross  violation  of 
the  rights  of  freemen  and  cannot  be  tolerated  in  a  free  government. 

"  Now,  therefore,  I,  John  Ireland,  Governor  of  Texas,  do  hereby 
issue  this,  my  proclamation,  warning  all  persons,  whoever  they  may  be, 
engaged  in  any  of  said  unlawful  acts,  that  they  are  entailing  on  them- 
selves disaster  and  ruin,  and  that  offended  and  outraged  justice  must 
sooner  or  later  overtake  and  punish  them  unless  they  promptly  cease 
their  lawlessness.  I  appeal  to  the  law-abiding  people  throughout  the 
State  to  aid  the  civil  officers  in  restoring  order  and  in  executing  the 
laws  and  in  discountenancing  in  every  way  possible  this  abnormal  con- 
dition. I  especially  appeal  to  all  civil  officers,  judges,  sheriffs,  con- 
stables, and  city  officials  to  make  use  of  all  means  given  them  by  law  to 
restore  order  with  the  assurance  that  every  power  of  the  State,  if  law- 
fully invoked,  will  be  used  to  enforce  the  law. 

[Signed]  "JOHN  IRELAND, 

"  Governor." 

On  the  same  day  Governor  Hughes,  of  Arkansas,  issued  a  procla- 
mation to  like  effect. 

The  proclamation  of  Governor  Marmaduke  being  telegraphed  to 
New  York,  the  next  day  he  received. the  following  telegraphic  message: 

"  New  York,  March  2o,  188G. 
"To  his  Excel!  cue  a.  Governor  Marmaduke,  Jefferson  City,  Mo. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Missouri  Pacific 
Railroad  Company,  held  in  New  York,  March  25,  1886,  at  2  p.  M.,  the 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  63 


proclamation  of  his  Excellency.  Governor  Marmaduke,  of  Missouri, 
was  read,  and  on  motion  duly  seconded,  it  was 

"  Resolved,  That  this  company  will  in  the  future,  as  it  has  sought 
to  do  in  the  past,  make  every  effort  to  secure  the  earliest  possible  full 
and  regular  resumption  of  the  operation  of  its  trains,  and  it  pledges 
itself  to  perform  and  comply  on  its  part  with  all  the  requisitions  of  the 
Governor  in  said  proclamation. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  second  assistant  secretary  transmit  a  copy  of 
the  foregoing  to  his  Excellency,  the  Governor  of  Missouri. 

"  By  order  of  the  Board. 

[Signed]  "  Guy  Phillips, 

"  Second  Assistant  Secretary." 

The  switchmen's  strike  at  Kansas  City  terminated  satisfactorily  on 
the  25th,  but  in  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois,  on  the  same  date,  about  eighty 
switchmen,  representing  the  several  terminal  railways  at  that  point,  at 
the  instance  of  J.  J.  McGarry,  Judge  Advocate  of  the  Knights  of 
Labor,  quit  work.  The  strike  appears  to  have  been  sympathetic  with 
the  strikers  of  St.  Louis  and  the  Gould  system,  though  it  was  claimed 
that  there  was  a  discrimination  in  wages  in  East  St.  Louis  and  Chicago 
for  the  same  character  of  work.  Martin  Irons  and  J.  J.  McGarry  ap. 
peared  to  be  the  leading  spirits  in  this  strike,  which  was  ultimately  to 
result  in  tragedy  and  disaster. 

During  this  time,  freight  trains,  under  difficulties,  had  began  to 
move,  irregularly,  and  new  men  had  began  to  be  employed  in  the  vari- 
ous departments  of  railroad  business.  This  only  served  to  incense 
the  strikers  and  acts  of  violence  became  more  frequent,  but  the  unde- 
niable fact  remained  that  the  roads  were  gradually  resuming  their  busi- 
ness. 

On  the  25th  a  freight  train  passing  through  Pacific,  Mo.,  was  raided 
by  a  large  number  of  Knights  of  Labor  and  their  wives,  who  nocked 
from  the  Assembly  Hall,  and  pelted  the  trainmen  and  guards  with  all 
sorts  of  missiles,  including  gun  and  pistol  shots.  These  shots  were  re- 
turned by  the  guards,  but  fortunately  no  one  was  seriously  injured. 
This  affair,  however,  subsequently  resulted  in  the  indictment,  arrest 
and  conviction  of  the  leader  of  the  mob,  who  after  serving  a  few 
months  in  the  Missouri  Penitentiary  was  released  and  soon  after  died. 

A  mass-meeting  was  held  at  Jefferson  City,  irrespective  of  party, 
at  which  resolutions  were  adopted,  endorsing  the  Governor's  proclama- 
tion and  denouncing  the  strikers.  On  the  same  date,  the  strikers  and 
Knights  of  Labor  at  Holden,  Mo.,  held  a  meeting,  declared   they  had 


64  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

no  grievance,  and  announced  their  determination  to  go  to  work.  At 
the  same  time  the  Knights  of  Labor  at  Fort  Worth,  Texas,  in  a  public 
meeting,  asked  a  "suspension  of  judgment."  etc. 

Immediately  upon  receiving  the  news  of  the  trouble  at  Pacific, 
which  is  some  thirty-six  miles  west  of  St.  Louis,  on  the  mainline  of  the 
Missouri  Pacific,  and  St.  Louis  &  San  Francisco  Railroads,  Governor 
Marmaduke,  by  special  train,  dispatched  Adjutant-General  Jamison, 
p-with  a  select  party  of  fourteen  men  and  seventy-five  stands  of  arms  and 
ammunition  to  that  place.  Upon  arriving  there,  the  sheriff  swore  in  as 
special  deputies  about  fifty  citizens.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  this  ac- 
tion of  the  Governor  was  by  telegraphic  request  of  the  Mayor  of  Pa- 
cific, himself  a  Knight  of  Labor.  'While  in  conference  with  General 
Jamison  and  others  a  passenger  train  passed  through  Pacific  going 
west,  and  when  only  a  few  miles  out,  strikers,  who  had  previously 
boarded  the  train,  "  demoralized  "  the  conductor  and  killed  the  engine- 
However,  after  the  deputies  were  armed,  there  was  no  further  trouble 
at  Pacific. 

^Yhile  these  events  were  transpiring  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
troubles  of  even  a  more  serious  nature  were  being  enacted  on  the  east 
side,  at  East  St.  Louis.  Acts  of  violence  were  frequent  and  all  trains 
were  impeded  in  their  movements. 

The  gradual  and  partial  resumption  of  railroad  traffic  in  Missouri, 
Kansas  and  Texas  portended  the  end  of  the  strike,  and  Mr.  Powderly 
again  became  prominent.  On  the  27th,  he  indited  the  following  letter 
to  Mr.  Jay  Gould : 

"  Xoble  Order  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  of 
America,  Office  of  General  Secretary, 
Philadelphia,  March  27,  1886. 

"  Mr.  Jay  Gould  : 

"Sir:     The  General  Executive  Board  would  be  pleased  to  have 

an  interview  with  you  at  your  convenience  to-day  for  the  purpose  of 

submitting  the  Southwest  difficulties  to  a  committee  of  seven  (7)  for 

arbitration,  three  of  the  committee  to  be  appointed  by  yourself  and 

three  by  the  General  Executive  Board ;  the  six  to  select  the  seventh 

member  of   the    committee,  their   decision   in  the  matter  to  be  final. 

Should  this  proposition  be  acceptable  we  will  at  once  issue  an  order 

•  for  the  men  to  return  to  work. 

"  By  order  of  the  General  Executive  Board, 

"  Frederick  Turner, 

"  SecT  etarv  of  Board." 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR    STATISTICS.  G5 


To  which  Mr.  Gould  responded  as  follows  : 

"The  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company, 
New  York,  March  L'7,  1886. 

*'  Frederick  Turner,  Esq.,  Secretary,  etc.,  Philadelphia,  Pa.: 

"  Dear  Sir  :  I  have  your  note  of  this  date  proposing  an  inter- 
view between  your  Executive  Committee  and  the  officers  of  this  com- 
pany, for  the  purpose  of  submitting  to  arbitration  by  a  committee  of 
seven  what  you  term  the  '*  Southwestern  difficulties.'  You  are  doubt- 
less aware  that  in  the  negotiations  which  took  place  here  last  August 
between  Mr.  T.  V.  Powderly,  Grand  Master  Workman,  and  associates, 
and  the  officers  of  this  company,  it  was  agreed  that  in  future  no  strikes 
would  be  ordered  on  The  Missouri  Pacific  road  until  after  a  conference 
with  the  officers  of  the  company  and  an  opportunity  to  adjust  any  al- 
leged grievances.  In  view  of  this  fact,  attention  is  drawn  to  the  fol- 
lowing correspondence  between  Mr.  A.  L.  Hopkins,  Vice-President 
acting  for  this  company  in  my  absence,  and  Mr.  Powderly  : 

" '  New  York,  March  6,  1886. 
"'T.  V.  Powderly,  Scranton,  Pa.: 

'"Mr.  Hoxie  telegraphes  that  the  Knights  of  Labor  on  our  road 
have  struck  and  refuse  to  allow  any  freight  trains  to  run  on  our  road, 
saying  they  have  no  grievance,  but  are  only  striking  because  they  are 
ordered  to  do  so.  If  there  is  any  grievance  we  would  like  to  talk  it 
over  with  you.  We  understood  you  to  promise  that  no  strike  should 
be  ordered  without  consultation. 

"'A.  L.  HOPKINS. 

" '  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  March  8,  1886. 
"'A.  L.  Hopkins,  Secretary  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad,  195  Broadway, 
New  York: 

" '  Have  telegraphed  West  for  particulars.  Papers  say  strike  caused 
by  discharge  of  man  named  Hall.  Can  he  be  reinstated  pending  inves- 
tigation ? 

" '  T.  V.  PO WDEELY. 

"  '  New  York,  March  8,  1886. 
"lT.  V.  Powderly: 

"  '  Thanks  for  your  message  and  suggestion.  Hall  was  employed  by 
the  Texas  &  Pacific  and  not  by  us.  That  property  is  in  the  hands  of 
the  United  States  Court  and  we  have  no  control  whatever  over  the  re- 

L   s — 5 


66  BUREAU    OF   LABOR    STATISTICS. 


ceivers  or  over  the  employes.  We  have  carried  out  the  agreements 
made  last  spring  in  every  respect,  and  the  present  strike  is  unjust  to  us 
and  unwise  for  you.  It  is  reported  here  that  this  movement  is  the  re- 
sult of  Wall  street  influence  on  the  part  of  those  short  of  the  securities 
likely  to  be  affected. 

"  '  A.  L.  HOPKIXS.' 

"  No  reply  to  this  message  was  received,  but  this  company's  re- 
quest for  a  conference  was  ignored  and  its  premises  at  once  invaded 
and  its  property  destroyed  by  the  men  of  your  order  in  great  numbers, 
who  also  seized  and  disabled  its  trains,  as  they  have  since  continued  to 
do.  whenever  attempting  to  run.  The  Board  of  Directors  of  this  com- 
pany thereupon  had  a  copy  of  the  correspondence  above  given  made 
and  transmitted  to  Mr.  H.  M.  Hoxie,  the  First  Vice-President  and  Gen- 
eral Manager  at  St.  Louis,  with  instructions  to  use  every  endeavor 
to  continue  the  operation  of  the  road,  and  committed  the  whole  matter 
to  his  hands. 

"  Mr.  Hoxie's  overtures,  made  through  the  Governors  of  Missouri 
and  Kansas,  who  stated  that  they  found  no  cause  for  the  strike,  were 
rejected  by  your  order.  These  and  the  subsequent  correspondence 
between  him  and  Mr.  Powderly  are  well  known  to  you,  and  Mr.  Hoxie's 
course  has  been  confirmed  by  the  board  and  the  matter  is  still  in  his 
hands.  I  am,  therefore,  instructed  by  the  board  to  refer  you  to  him  as 
its  continuing  representative  in  the  premises. 

"I  am  directed  toaddin  behalf  of  the  board,  that  in  its  judgment  so 
long  as  this  company  is  forcibly  kept  from  the  control  of  its  property  and 
from  performing  its  charter  duties,  its  business  is  done,  if  at  all,  not  un- 
der the  conditions  of  law,  which  are  common  to  all  citizens,  but  only  at 
the  will  of  a  law-breaking  force.  Any  negotiations  with  such  a  force 
would  be  unwise  and  useless.  Terms  made  with  it  would  not  be  a  set- 
tlement of  difficulties,  but  a  triumph  of  force  over  the  law  of  the  land. 
It  would  mean  nothing  in  their  judgment  but  new  troubles  and  worse. 
This  is  the  result  of  their  experience. 

"In  the  meantime,  the  Governor's  proclamation  enjoins  upon  your 
men  to  return  to  duty,  and  this  company's  continued  advertisement 
offers  them  employment  on  the  same  terms  as  heretofore.  The  board 
further  suggests  that  inasmuch  as  your  order  assuming  in  your  com- 
munication responsibility  for  these  men  and  power  and  control  over 
them,  the  following  from  the  proclamation  of  the  Governor  of  Missouri 
is  expressive  of  their  duty  and  of  your  own  : 


BUEEAU    OF  LABOE   STATISTICS.  67 


"  '  I  warn  all  persons,  whether  they  be  employes  ar  not,  against  in- 
terposing any  obstacle  whatever  in  the  way  of  said  resumption,  and  with 
a  firm  reliance  npon  the  courage,  good  sense  and  law-abiding  spirit  of 
the  public,  I  hereby  call  upon  all  good  citizens  to  assist  in  carrying  out 
the  purposes  of  this  proclamation ;  and  I  also  hereby  pledge  the  whole 
power  of  the  State,  so  far  as  it  may  be  lawfully  wielded  by  its  chief  ex- 
ecutive officer,  to  sustain  the  company  and  its  servants  in  said  resump- 
tion, and  to  restrain  and  punish  all  that  may  oppose  it.' 

"  When  this  proclamation  shall  be  obeyed  and  when  the  company's 
late  employes  shall  desist  from  violence  and  interference  with  its  trains, 
the  board  hereby  assure  them  that  they  will  find  themselves  met  by  Mr. 
Hoxie  in  the  spirit  in  which  he  has  heretofore  successfully  avoided 
rupture  and  cause  for  just  complaint,  and  in  that  just  and  liberal  spirit 
which  should  always  exist  between  the  employer  and  the  employed. 
By  order  of  the  board. 

"  Very  respectfully  yours, 

"JAY  GOULD, 
"  President  Missouri  Pacific  Eailway  Company." 

To  this  Mr.  Powderly  made  the  following  reply  : 

"  New  Yoek,  March  27,  1886. 
"  Jay  Gould,  President  : 

"Deae  Sib — We  have  received  your  reply  to  our  communication 
of  this  morning.  The  statements  made  in  your  reply  are  worthy  of  more 
consideration  than  can  be  given  to  them  at  this  moment.  We  are  not 
in  possession  here  of  the  telegrams  or  communications  or  copies  of  the 
same,  referred  to  in  your  letter.  We  came  here  unprepared,  with  no 
thought  of  using  them  here.  The  field  that  would  be  opened  up  for 
discussion  would  be  so  broad  that  it  would  take  a  good  deal  of  time  and 
space  to  cover  it  as  contained  in  your  reply.  This  would  necessitate  a 
review  of  the  transactions  of  last  year,  beginning  with  the  strike  of 
March,  1885,  continuing  through  the  Wabash  troubles,  which  brought 
on  our  meeting  with  you  in  August,  down  to  the  strike  on  the  Texas 
Pacific,  and  its  extension  to  the  Missouri  river  lines. 

'  We  consider  that  all  this  is  unnecessary  at  this  time.  Public  in- 
terest, the  interest  of  both  parties  to  this  controversy,  will  not  be  served 
by  a  longer  continuance  of  the  strike  if  there  is  a  shadow  of  a  chance 
to  bring'it  to  a"speedy  termination.  With  that  idea  in  view,  we  prefer 
to  let  this  discussion  go,  and  allow  this  matter  to  be  decided  upon  its 
merits  by  an  impartial  committee,  selected  as  indicated  in  our  communi- 
cation of  this  morning.    Let  them  proceed  to  adjust  the  differences, 


68  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

and  having  settled  that  matter  and  set  in  motion  the  idle  wheels  and 
hands,  we  have  no  objections  to  the  same  committee  reviewing  our 
actions  in  the  matter,  and  we  are  willing  to  be  judged,  to  receive  cen- 
sure at  their  hands  if  necessary,  for  any  short-comings  they  may  deem 
us  guilty  of.  The  needs  of  the  hour  require  that  this  strike  terminate 
speedily ;  if  that  is  done  the  other  matters  can  be  very  readily  at- 
tended to.  "  Very  truly  yours, 

"T.  V.  POWDERLY." 

Mr.  Gould's  reply  to  this  letter  was  as  follows : 

"President's  Office, 
The  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Co., 
New  York,  March  28,  1886. 

"  T.  V.  Powderly,  Esq.,  6.  M.,  Etc.  : 

"  Dear  Sir— Replying  to  your  letter  of  27th  inst.,  I  write  to  say 
that  I  will  to-morrow  morning  send  the  following  telegraphic  instruc- 
tions : 

"  '  H.  M.  Hoxie,  General  Manager,  St.  Louis  : 

"  '  In  resuming  the  movement  of  trains  on  the  Missouri  Pacific  and 
in  the  re-employment  of  labor  in  the  several  departments  of  the  company 
you  will  give  preference  to  our  late  employes  whether  they  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Knights  of  Labor  or  not,  except  that  you  will  not  re-employ 
any  person  who  has  injured  the  company's  property  during  the  late  strike 
nor  will  we  discharge  any  person  who  has  taken  service  with  us  during 
said  strike.  We  see  no  objection  to  arbitrating  any  differences  be- 
tween the  employes  and  the  company,  past  or  future.' 

"  '  Hoping  the  above  will  be  satisfactory,  I  remain, 

"  '  Yours  truly, 
"<  JAY  GOULD,  President.'  " 

On  the  28th  Mr.  Powderly  sent  the  following  telegrams : 

"  New  York,  March  28,  1886. 

'  Martin  Irons,   Chairman   Executive   Board,   District  Assembly  No. 
101,  St.  Louis,  Mo.: 

"  President  Jay  Gould  has  consented  to  our  proposition  for  arbitra- 
tion, and  so  telegraphs  Vice-President  Hoxie.  Order  men  to  resume 
work  at  once.     By  order  of  the  Executive  Board. 

[Signed!  "  T.  V.  POWDERLY, 

"  G.  M.  W.,  K.  of  L." 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  69 


"  New  York,  March  28, 1886. 
"To  the  Knights  of  Labor  noiv  on  strike  in  the  Southwest: 

Pursuant  to  telegraphic  instructions  sent  to  the  chairman  of  the 
Executive  Board,  District  Assembly  101,  you  are  directed  to  resume 
work  at  once.     By  order  of  the  Executive  Board. 

[Signed]  "T.  V.  POWDERLY, 

"  G.  M.  W.» 

The  situation  in  East  St.  Louis  at  this  time  was  becoming  serious. 
The  strikers  were  violent  and  aggressive,  and  speedily  all  traffic  was  in 
a  measure  suspended.  This  strike  in  East  St.  Louis  appears  to  have 
been  purely  sympathetic,  and  was  therefore  more  violent.  It  is  not  of 
record  that  they  even  presented  their  grievances,  real  or  immagi- 
nary,  to  all  the  railway  companies  of  which  they  complained ;  yet  rein- 
forced by  boys  and  women,  they  assailed  and  stopped  nearly  all  trains, 
assaulting  trainmen,  pulling  coupling  pins,  etc. 

In  the  meantime,  while  negotiations  were  pending  in  New  York ; 
looking  to  a  settlement  of  the  difficulties,  various  acts  of  violence  were 
being  perpetrated  in  Missouri,  Texas  and  Kansas. 

The  history  of  the  diplomatic  controversy  between  Mr.  Powderly 
and  Mr.  Gould  is  interesting,  if  not  valuable.  The  "fence"  of  each  is 
admirable. 

On  the  26th  of  March  the  St.  Louis  Globe-Democrat  printed  the 
following  secret  circular  from  Mr.  Powderly,  which  will  explain  some 
things  heretofore  unaccountable  for  in  the  history  of  the  great  strike : 

"  [Secret  Circular.] 

"Xoble  Order  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  of  America,  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  March  13, 1886. — The  recording  secretary  will,  on  receipt 
of  this  circular,  place  it  in  the  hands  of  the  Master  Workman,  whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  issue  a  red  letter  call  for  a  full  meeting  either  regu- 
lar or  special,  have  a  full  attendance,  and  read  it.  Its  extreme  length 
must  be  excused,  for  I  cannot  go  to  each  assembly  to  speak  on  the 
present  crisis,  and  take  this  method  of  reaching  them. 

"An  order  was  recently  issued  to  suspend  organization  of  new  as- 
semblies for  forty  days.  It  did  not  go  out  until  a  careful  review  of  the 
field  had  been  taken.  Had  I  not  been  convinced  that  it  was  absolutely 
necessary  for  the  salvation  of  the  order,  my  vote  would  not  be  cast  in 
favor  of  a  cessation  of  the  work. 

"One  of  the  gravest  emergencies  that  ever  faced  a  human  being 
stands  squarely  before  the  head  of  this  order  to-day.     It  is  not  coming — 


70  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

it  is  here — and  must  be  firmly  dealt  with.  Before  taking  another  step 
in  any  direction,  I  want  to  go  before  the  great  mass  of  our  membership 
through  the  medium  of  this  circular,  ask  of  them  to  speak  to  me  as 
frankly  as  I  now  talk  to  them,  and  tell  me  what  is  best  to  be  done.  If 
the  order  is  to  perform  its  mission  as  intended  by  its  founders  and 
those  who  have  worked  with  it  from  the  beginning,  a  radical  change 
must  be  effected.  A  stop  must  be  called  and  the  ship  brought  back 
to  her  moorings.  It  has  always  been,  and  is  at  the  present  time,  my 
policy  to  advocate  conciliation  and  arbitration  in  the  settlements  of 
disputes  between  employer  and  employe.  The  law  of  knighthood  de- 
mands at  the  hands  of  our  members  an  adherence  to  that  policy.  Thou- 
sands of  men  who  have  become  disgusted  with  the  ruinous  policy  of 
the  strike,  as  the  only  remedy  for  ills  we  complain  of  were  drawn  to  us 
because  we  proclaimed  to  mankind  that  we  had  discarded  the  strike 
until  all  else  had  failed.  The  men  and  women  who  flocked  to  our  stand- 
ard have  a  knowledge  of  their  wrongs.  They  have  endured  these 
wrongs  for  years  and  in  reason  are  in  duty  bound  to  learn  how  to  right 
these  wrongs  by  the  least  expensive  and  most  satisfactory,  as  well  as 
lasting,  remedy. 

"  Six  months  will  not  teach  men  our  principles  and  proper  methods, 
yet  men  are  impressed  with  the  idea  that  they  can  learn  them  in  six 
weeks  or  six  days,  and  before  the  groundwork  for  a  proper  education 
is  laid,  we  find  our  assemblies  on  a  strike  or  locked  out ;  and  in  too 
many  cases  the  provocation  comes  from  their  own  hasty  and  incon- 
siderate action.  No  matter  what  advantage  we  gain  by  the  strike,  it  is 
only  medicating  the  symptoms ;  it  does  not  penetrate  the  system,  and 
therefore  fails  in  effecting  a  cure.  The  only  natural  sequence  is  a  re- 
lapse, and  a  relapse  always  means  more  medicine  and  a  weaker  patient 
than  before.  You  must  bear  with  me  and  read  this  letter  to  the  end, 
for  it  may  be  the  last  one  I  will  ever  write  to  you.  My  duties  to  the 
order  and  humanity  must  not  be  measured  by  the  standard  of  dollars 
and  cents.     My  policy  must  no  longer  be  misunderstood. 

"While  I,  as  the  chosen  mouth-piece  of  the  order,  am  proclaiming 
to  the  world  that  the  Knights  of  Labor  do  not  advocate  or  countenance 
strikes  until  every  other  remedy  has  failed,  the  wires  from  a  thousand 
cities  and  towns  are  bearing  the  news  of  as  many  strikes  by  Knights 
of  Labor  in  which  arbitration  and  conciliation  were  never  hinted  at. 
Not  that  alone,  but  they  were  in  many  cases  scorned  and  rejected  by 
our  own  members.  In  some  cases  these  strikes  were  entered  upon 
against  the  advice  of  the  general  Executive  Board.  It  is  claimed  by 
our  members  that  arbitration  is  one-sided.     That  may  be  true  of  the 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  71 


past,  but  the  voluntary  concessions  made  to  us  within  the  last  three 
months  prove  most  conclusively  that  the  just  claims  of  labor  will  be 
listened  to  if  we  go  forward  in  the  way  we  started  out.  It  is  claimed 
that  this  is  a  year  for  concessions  and  advances.  Be  that  as  it  may,  we 
can  not  force  them  by  striking.  I  am  aware  that  the  machinery  is  not 
capable  of  performing  the  work  required  by  the  large  gains  in  member- 
ship, and  this  fact  must  have  a  restraining  influence  on  our  members 
until  the  next  General  Assembly  meets.  Five  hundred  assemblies 
were  added  to  the  roll  in  February — as  many  as  were  organized  in  the 
first  eight  years  of  the  order's  existence.  It  is  not  within  the  bounds 
of  human  possibility  to  expect  that  all  of  these  new  recruits  can  be 
properly  trained  before  the  assemblies  are  founded.  The  organizers 
seldom  visit  them  for  instruction  but  once,  and  this  is  not  enough. 
They  must  devote  their  spare  moments  to  educating  those  already  or- 
ganized, before  adding  any  more  new  assemblies  to  the  order.  To  at- 
tempt to  coin  concessions  or  gains  with  our  present  raw,  undisciplined 
membership,  would  be  like  hurling  an  unorganized  mob  against  a  well 
drilled  regular  army.  Again,  it  is  not  fair  to  the  older  assemblies  to 
bring  in  new  members,  pick  up  their  quarrels  as  soon  as  organized, 
and  have  them  expect  pecuniary  aid  from  those  who  helped  build  the 
order  up  for  a  noble  purpose.  It  is  not  wise  to  give  men  and  women 
a  premium  for  joining  us.  It  is  wrong  to  encourage  them  in  the  idea 
that  they  have  nothing  to  do  themselves,  that  they  are  to  lean  upon 
others ;  they  must  depend  upon  themselves,  and  in  any  case  cannot 
receive  assistance  inside  of  six  months,  and  I  will  hold  out  no  induce- 
ments that  will  encourage  them  in  the  belief  that  they  will  receive  as- 
sistance even  then.  We  have  built  up  a  moral  force  that  will  command 
a  hearing  for  us  before  any  tribunal  in  the  country.  We  must  not 
fritter  away  our  strength  and  miss  the  golden  opportunity  to  crown 
every  effort  with  success  by  rushing  into  useless  strikes. 

"To  the  cardinal  principles  of  the  order  we  must  add  another  — 
patience.  You  have  had  patience  for  years:  and  had  not  the  Knights 
of  Labor  appeared  upon  the  scene  you  would  still  be  waiting.  Your 
scales  of  prices  must  stand  as  they  arc  for  the  present  if  you  can  not 
raise  them  by  any  other  process  than  a  strike.  You  must  submit  to 
injustice  at  the  hands  of  the  employer  in  patience  for  a  while  longer. 
Bide  well  your  time.  Make  no  display  of  organization  or  strength  until 
.you  have  every  man  and  woman  in  your  department  of  industry  organ- 
ized, and  then  do  not  strike,  hut  study,  not  only  your  own  condition, 
but  that  of  your  employer.  Find  out  how  much  you  are  justly  entitled 
to,  and  the  tribunal  of  arbitration  will  settle  the  rest.     Organizers  who 


72  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

publish  an  account  of  their  work  to  the  world,  assemblies  that  publish 
an  account  of  their  strength  to  the  world,  and  members,  whether  pub- 
lic or  private,  wlio  speak  boastingly  of  our  strength  to  the  world,  are 
very  indiscreet.  Mind  your  own  business,  keep  your  own  counsel.  If 
the  world  wishes  to  learn  anything  concerning"  us  let  it  ask  for  infor- 
mation. If  it  is  proper  to  give  the  information  we  may  do  it.  When 
we  can  win  a  victory  let  us  be  magnanimous,  and  not  boast  of  it  or 
speak  slightingly  of  the  vanquished ;  he  who  does  so  is  a  coward. 
Each  district  assembly,  each  local  assembly  must  appoint  a  committee 
on  instructions  to  teach  our  members  what  our  order  was  intended  for. 
I  have  no  advise  as  to  how  much  they  should  be  taught :  let  them  learn 
all  they  can. 

"The  Knights  of  Labor  are  not  opposed  to  the  employer  of  labor,, 
but  it  was  not  intended  that  the  order  should  harbor  unjust  employers. 
In  many  assemblies  the  employer  and  manufacturer  have  a  controlling 
influence.  The  men  who  work  for  them  will  express  themselves  as 
they  feel,  and,  in  my  opinion,  it  would  be  best  to  treat  with  an  employer 
as  he  is  rather  than  as  a  brother  Knight.  We  can  deal  with  him  just  as 
fairly  beyond  the  veils  as  within  the  sanctuary.  Take  in  as  few  em- 
ployers as  possible. 

"  The  name  of  this  order  and  its  principles  are  published  every- 
where, and  men  who  stood  openly  arrayed  against  us  twoyer.rs  ago  are 
now  our  friends  ;  beware  of  them.  Take  them  in  if  you  will,  but  watch 
them.  The  politician  is  planning  night  and  day  how  to  catch  the  Knights 
of  Labor  for  the  advantages  of  himself  or  party,  and,  rest  assured,  he 
has  his  emissaries  in  our  ranks.  We  must  expect  this  and  we  must 
stamp  out  every  effort  of  the  party  man — it  matters  not  of  which  party 
— who  attempts  to  use  us  for  political  purposes.  To  those  assemblies 
which  drag  the  name  of  the  order  into  the  political  action  of  any  party, 
I  say:  We  are  greater  than  any  party  on  American  soil  to-day,  and 
we  must  remain  so.  Every  reform  that  could  possibly  come  through 
the  organization  of  a  new  party  can  be  obtained  with  one.  We  are 
every  day  gaining  concessions  from  State  and  Nation  :  thus  the  lie  is 
given  to  those  who  urge  the  formation  of  a  new  party.  To  use  the  name 
of  the  order  in  a  political  contest  is  criminal,  and  must  not  occur  again. 
It  is  evident  that  our  members  are  not  properly  instructed,  else  we 
would  not  find  them  passing  resolutions  approving  of  the  action  of  our 
executive  officers  in  fixing  the  first  of  May  as  the  day  to  strike  for  eight 
hours  !  The  executive  officers  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  have  never  fixed 
upon  the  first  of  May  for  a  strike  of  any  kind.  Assemblies  of  the  Knights 
of  Labor  must  not  strike  for  the  eight  horn-  system  on  May  first  under 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  73 


the  impression  that  they  are  obeying  orders  from  headquarters — for 
such  an  order  was  not  and  will  not  be  given. 

"Neither  employer  nor  employe  are  educated  to  the  needs  and 
necessities  of  the  eight-hour  plan.  If  one  branch  of  trade  or  one 
assembly  is  in  such  a  condition,  remember  that  there  are  many  who  are 
in  total  ignorance  of  the  movement.  Out  of  00,000,000  of  people  in  the 
United  States  and  Canada  our  order  has  possibly  300,000.  Can  we 
mould  the  sentiments  of  the  millions  in  favor  of  the  short-hour  plan 
before  May  first  ?  It  is  nonsense  to  think  of  it.  Let  us  learn  why  our 
hours  of  labor  should  be  reduced,  then  teach  others. 

"Nearly  every  State  Assembly  that  has  been  formed  since  the 
General  Assembly  met  has  been  organized  among  discord  and  conten- 
tion. I  fear  that  the  struggle  is  not  to  serve  the  order  so  much  as  to 
serve  personal  ends.  Nearly  every  assembly  in  the  States  of  Kansas 
and  Michigan  has  complained  to  me  about  the  attempts  being  made  to 
organize  State  Assemblies.  To  attempt  to  elevate  labor  by  starting  out 
an  assembly  of  any  kind  with  a  light  is  folly.  It  would  be  far  better  to- 
stop  work  in  these  States  now  and  begin  work  in  a  practical  way  than 
to  carry  the  work  forward  under  the  prejudices  and  animosities  now 
resting  in  the  breasts  of  the  disappointed  ones.  Our  order  is  a  business 
institution.  It  must  be  run  on  business  principles,  and  if  it  is  not 
managed  in  this  way  it  will  go  the  road  of  all  mismanaged  concerns.  In 
selecting  officers  to  manage  a  banking  concern  the  best  qualified  are 
chosen.  The  rash,  inconsiderate  man  is  set  aside  ;  the  man  who  is  quick 
of  temper  and  hasty  of  speech  is  passed  over  and  the  man  of  mature 
judgment  and  business  qualities  is  selected.  I  am  pained  to  witness 
the  quality  of  men  some  parts  of  our  order  select  for  important  work. 

"  These  words  of  mine  must  be  heeded  or  this  order  goes  down  as 
surely  as  night  follows  day.  Elect  no  man  because  of  his  fine  speech 
or  impetuosity,  put  none  but  the  coolest  men  in  positions  of  any  kind,. 
Keep  them  there  and  uphold  them  in  their  work.  It  is  not  the  duty  of 
an  officer  to  picture  the  wrongs  of  a  man  until  he  excites  his  assembly 
to  fever  heat.  Heaven  knows  the  indignities  which  labor  complains  of 
are  grievance  enongh,  and  require  no  painting.  We  must  look  to  them 
as  they  really  exist,  and  settle  them  as  best  we  can.  While  I  write,  a 
dispatch  is  handed  me  in  which  I  read  these  words  :  They  discharged 
our  brother  and  we  struck,  for  you  know  our  motto  is :  An  injury  to  one 
is  the  concern  of  all!  Yes,  an  injury  to  one  is  the  concern  of  all!  but 
it  is  not  wise  to  injure  all  for  the  sake  of  one. 

"  It  would  have  been  far  better  to  continue  at  work  and  investigate 
the  matter,  bringing  it  before  every  known  tribunal,  than  to  have  struck- 


71  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

The  thousands  of  men  now  earning  nothing  could  have  given  ten  cents 
apiece  to  support  the  brother  for  a  few  weeks  much  easier  than  to 
spend  weeks  and  months  in  idleness.  Many  of  them  will  never  be 
restored  to  their  former  positions.  In  this  case  the  injury  to  one  was 
not  repaired,  and  all  concerned  will  be  more  or  less  injured. 

We  could  have  prevented  our  brother  from  being  injured  by  assist- 
ing him  in  a  far  different  way.  Zeal  in  a  cause  sometimes  brings  on  the 
discharge  of  a  member.  Sometimes  a  too  open  expression  of  opinion 
does  it.  It  is  not  necessary  to  indulge  in  the  latter.  Now.  recurring  to 
another  subject :  the  Church  has  been  watching  our  order  for  years. 
In  our  infancy  we  had  but  little  power  for  good  or  evil ;  to-day  we  are 
the  strongest  as  well  as  the  weakest  labor  organization  on  earth;  strong 
in  numbers  and  principles ;  strong  in  justice  of  our  demands  if  prop- 
erly made  :  we  are  weak  in  the  methods  we  use  to  set  our  claims  before 
the  world.  Strikes  are  often  the  forerunners  of  lawless  actions.  One 
blow  brings  on  another,  and  if  a  single  act  of  ours  encourages  the 
anarchist  element  we  must  meet  with  the  antagonism  of  the  Church. 
I  warn  our  members  against  hasty,  ill-considered  action.  The  Church 
will  not  interfere  with  us  so  long  as  we  maintain  the  law.  If  the  law 
is  wrong  it  is  our  duty  to  change  it.  I  am  ashamed  to  meet  with  clergy- 
men and  others  to  tell  them  that  our  order  is  composed  of  law-abiding, 
intelligent  men.  while  the  next  dispatch  brings  the  news  of  some  petty 
boycott  or  strike. 

"The  daily  papers  have  a  column  devoted  to  strikes  and  boycotts 
every  day,  and  some  of  the  causes  are  ridiculous.  I  write  this  circular 
to  lay  before  the  order  the  exact  condition  of  things.  I  am  neither 
physically  nor  mentally  capable  of  performing  the  work  required  of  me. 
I  am  willing  to  do  my  part  but  must  not  be  asked  to  maintain  a  false 
position  before  the  world  any  longer.  One  of  two  things  must  take 
place  :  Either  the  local  and  district  assemblies  of  the  order  must  obey 
its  laws  or  I  must  be  permitted  to  resign  from  a  position  which  obliges 
me  to  play  one  part  before  the  public  and  another  to  our  members.  I 
say  to  the  world  that  the  Knights  of  Labor  do  not  approve  of  or  en- 
courage strikes,  and  in  one  day  dispatches  came  to  me  to  come  to 
Troy,  Is.  Y.,  Manchester,  N.  H.,  Chicago,  111.,  Cincinnati.  O.,  Lynchburg, 
Ya.,  Springfield.  O..  and  Montreal,  Canada.  It  is  impossible  for  human 
nature  to  stand  the  strain  any  longer.  I  must  have  the  assistance  of 
the  order  or  my  most  earnest  efforts  will  fail. 

"  Will  I  have  it  ?  If  so,  strikes  must  be  avoided,  boycotts  must  be 
avoided.     Those  who  boast  most  must  be  checked  by  their  assemblies. 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR    STATISTICS.  J5 

* ' 

No  move  must  be  made  until  the  court  of  last  resort  has  been  appealed 
to.     Threats  of  violence  must  not  be  made. 

"Politicians  must  be  hushed  up  or  driven  out. 

"  Obedience  to  the  laws  of  knighthood  must  have  preference  over 
those  of  any  other  order.  If  these  things  are  done  the  next  five  years 
will  witness  the  complete  emancipation  of  mankind  from  the  curse  of 
monopoly.  In  our  members  we  require  secrecy,  obedience,  assistance, 
patience  and  courage.  If,  with  these  aids,  you  strengthen  my  hands  I 
will  continue  in  the  work.  If  you  do  not  desire  to  assist  me  in  this 
way,  then  select  a  man  better  qualified  to  obey  your  will,  and  I  will 
retire  in  his  favor. 

"T.  V.  POWDEELY, 

"  Grand  Master  Workman." 

Traffic  was  being  gradually  resumed  on  the  28th  at  St.  Louis,  Se- 
dalia,  Atchison  and  various  points  in  Texas.  Freight  trains,  with  police 
protection,  began  to  move  and  new  men  in  sufficient  numbers  assumed 
the  places  of  the  strikers.  But  the  end  was  not  yet,  for  pending  the 
diplomacy  going  on  between  the  officers  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  and 
the  railroad  officials,  violence  of  more  or  less  serious  character  was 
frequent.  This  was  notably  so  at  DeSoto.  Mo.,  the  location  of  the 
most  extensive  shops  on  the  Iron  Mountain  Railway.  A  passing 
freight  train  in  charge  of  Conductor  Nelson  was  delayed,  Nelson  as- 
saulted, and  Yardmaster  Todd,  who  attempted  to  interfere  on  behalf  of 
the  conductor,  was  assaulted  and  driven  to  his  boarding-house  by  an 
infuriated  mob,  and  his  life  probably  only  saved  by  the  heroism  of  a 
Mrs.  Duffy — the  boarding-house  keeper — who,  with  pistol  in  hand, 
braved  the  mob  and  prevented  their  entrance. 

It  appears  that  a  misunderstanding  between  Mr.  Gould  and  Mr. 
Powderly  regarding  the  telegram  to  Mr.  Hoxie  was  brought  about, 
which  the  following  correspondence  will  explain,  and  which  is  neces- 
sarv  to  be  recited  : 

li  Personal :" 

"  ."Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company,  March  29,  1886. 

"T.  Y.  Powderly,  Esq. 

"Dear  Sir — The  papers  this  morning  published  the  following: 
"  'Jay  Gould  has  consented  to  our  proposition  for  arbitration,  and 

so  telegraphed  Vice-President  Hoxie.     Order  the  men  to  resume  work 

at  once. — T.  Y.  Powderly.  G.  M.  W.' 

"They  published  an  interview  with  you  which  leads  one  to  think 


76  BUREAU    OF    LABOR    STATISTICS. 


that  the  officers  of  jour  order  in  St.  Louis  may  construe  your  message 
into  a  consent  on  the  part  of  this  company  to  conform  to  the  require- 
ments contained  in  the  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  you  order,  dated 
Philadelphia,  March  27,  which  in  my  letter  to  you  of  the  same  date  I 
declined  to  consider. 

"  You  will  remember  that  at  our  conference  of  Sunday  I  said  to 
you  that  the  position  of  this  company  was  unchanged  in  this  respect,, 
and  that  the  whole  matter  was  left  in  the  hands  of  the  First  Vice-Pres- 
ident and  General  Manager  of  the  road  with  the  instructions  contained 
in  my  telegram  to  him,  which  was  written  before  my  interview  with 
you,  and  i»ead  to  you  at  the  time.  This  telegram  stated,  '  We  see  no 
objection  to  arbitrate  any  differences  between  the  employes  and  the 
company,  past  or  future.'  I  feel  confident  that  your  understanding  of 
this  matter  is  the  same  as  my  own.  I  write  this  in  the  hope  that  there 
may  be  no  ground  for  future  misunderstanding. 

"  Very  respectfully  yours, 

"JAY  GOULD, 
"  President  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company.'' 

To  this  Mr.  Powderly  simply  replied  by  asking: 

"Do  I  understand  you  from  your  personal  letter  of  this  date  that 
your  company  refuse  arbitration,  and  must  I  so  telegraph  Martin  Irons  ¥* 

To  which  question  Vice-President  Hopkins,  in  the  absence  of  Mr. 
Gould,  made  answer  as  follows  : 

"You  may  say  distinctly  to  him  :  No,  we  do  not.  He  is  not  so  to 
understand  that  letter.  He  is  simply  referred  to  Mr.  Gould's  written 
communication  to  him,  which  he  is  prepared  to  carry  out  in  every  par- 
ticular." 

Then  Mr.  Powderly  wrote  the  following  : 

"  Astor  House,  New  York,  March  29,  1886. 
"Mr.  Jay  Gould,  President  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company: 

"  Dear  Sir — I  regret  exceedingly  that  my  sickness  to-day  has 
prevented  me  from  keeping  the  engagement  made  by  my  associates 
with  you  for  3  o'clock  this  afternoon.  Our  proposition  that  the  men 
should  return  at  once  to  work  on  the  agreement  that  any  complaints 
that  they  might  have  should  be  submitted  to  arbitration,  was  made  in 
perfect  good  faith,  and  when  after  the  receipt  by  you  of  our  letter  of 
Saturday  night,  and  our  conference  on  Sunday,  you  made  the  tele- 
graphic order  to  General  Manager  Hoxie,  contained  in  your  letter  to 
me  of  the  same  date,  in  which  was  used  the  following  language  :  '  We 
see  no  objection  to  arbitrating  any  differences  between  the  employes 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR    STATISTICS.  77 


and  the  company,  past  or  future,'  we  accepted  your  approval  to  the 
general  principles  of  arbitration  in  equal  good  faith,  and  at  once  issued 
an  order  for  the  men  to  return  to  work. 

"  We  are  not  particular  in  the  adjustment  of  the  present  difficulties 
whether  the  arbitrators  appointed  by  your  company  shall  be  named  by 
the  general  managers  or  yourself,  or  whether  their  number  shall  con- 
sist of  three,  five  or  seven.  In  case  they  consist  of  three,  my  associ- 
ates have  named  me,  or  if  sickness  prevents,  one  of  the  other  members 
of  the  board  will  take  my  place ;  in  case  they  consist  of  five,  Mr.  W.  O. 
McDowell  would  be  associated  with  me ;  in  case  of  seven,  we  would 
add  a  third  name. 

"We  can  imagine  no  greater  misfortune  for  your  company  than 
that  the  impression  should  go  forth,  not  only  to  the  members  of  our 
organization,  but  the  community  at  large,  whose  interests  are  suffering 
as  the  result  of  the  present  condition  of  affairs,  that  a  break  has  oc- 
curred between  the  interests  which  you  represent  and  which  I  repre- 
sent, by  reason  of  a  technicality. 

"The  gentleman  who  waited  upon  you  informs  me  that  in  case  I 
was  unable  to  meet  with  you  this  afternoon  at  3  o'clock  I  was  to  meet 
you  to-morrow  morning  at  10  o'clock.  I  hope  to  be  able  to  keep  the 
engagement  at  that  time.  After  the  receipt  of  your  personal  letter  to 
me,  and  reading  the  interviews  with  you  published  in  the  papers  this 
evening,  the  following  telegram  was  sent  to  each  of  the  following  gen- 
tlemen— Messrs.  Daly,  Irons  and  Houx,  at  Sedalia,  St.  Louis  and  Fort 
Worth: 

"'New  York,  March  29.— Complications  have  arisen  since  this 
morning  as  to  the  number  of  arbitrators.  Another  conference  will  be 
held  to-morrow. — T.  Y.  Powderly.' 

"T.  Y.  POWDEIILY, 

"  Grand  Master  Workman." 

While  these  proceedings  were  pending  quite  a  different  state  of 
affairs  were  existing  and  being  enacted  in  the  west.  At  East  St.  Louis 
passenger  as  well  as  freight  trains  were  boldly  stopped,  and  no  effect- 
ual resistance  was  made,  but  it  was  evident  that  the  resumption  of 
traffic  was  at  hand.  On  that  day,  the  28th  of  March,  one  hundred  and 
fifty  freight  trains  were  moved  on  the  Missouri  Pacific  system.  The 
end  was  only  a  battle  of  skirmishers. 

On  March  the  30th  a  conference  was  held  between  the  General 
Executive  Board  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  and  the  officials  of  the  Mis- 
souri Pacific  Eailroad  Company  in  New  York,  the  substance  of  which 
is  embodied  in  the  following  correspondence  : 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 


"Xew  York.  March  30.  1886. 
"H.  M.  Hoxie,  General  Manager,  St.  Louis: 

"Mr.  Powderly  wishes  to  know  if  you  will  meet  the  General  Execu- 
tive Board  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  or  a  committee  of  your  employes 
from  the  Knights  of  Labor  for  the  purpose  of  hearing  what  their  cause 
of  complaint  was  and  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  settlement  of  present 
difficulties  alike  honorable  to  both  parties,  either  on  the  basis  of  arbi- 
tration or  by  mutual  agreement,  the  same  to  be  binding  on  all  parties, 

[Signed]  "A.  L.  HOPKINS." 

"  St.  Louis.  March  30, 1886. 
"  A.  L.  Hopkins,  New  York : 

"  Replying  to  your  inquiry  from  Mr.  Powderly  of  this  date,  I  have 
to  say  that  yesterday  I  received  from  Mr.  Gould  the  following  message  : 

■■  In  resuming  the  movement  of  trains  on  the  Missouri  Pacific,  and 
in  the  employment  of  labor  in  the  several  departments  of  this  company, 
you  will  give  preference  to  our  late  employes,  whether  they  are  Knights 
of  Labor  or  not,  except  that  you  will  not  employ  any  person  who  has 
injured  the  company's  property  during  the  late  strike,  nor  will  we  dis- 
charge any  person  who  has  taken  service  with  the  company  during  said 
strike.  We  see  no  objection  to  arbitrating  any  differences  between  the 
employes  and  the  company,  past  or  future." 

To  which  I  sent  the  following  reply : 

"Jay  Gould,  President,  New   York: 

"I  have  your  message  in  relation  to  your  interview  with  Mr.  Pow- 
derlv,  and  also  the  letter  of  instructions,  and  will  carry  out  the  same  to 
the  best  of  my  ability. 

[Signed]  "H.  M.  HOXIE." 

"  I  am,  therefore,  willing  to  meet  a  committee  of  our  employes 
without  discrimination,  who  are  actually  at  work  in  the  service  of  the 
company  at  the  time  such  committee  is  appointed,  to  adjust  with  them 
any  grievances  that  they  may  have. 

[Signed]  ••  H.  M.  HOXIE." 

"  New  York.  March  30. 1886. 

"Martin  Irons.  St.  Louis: 

"Have  been  in  conference  all  day  with  the  result  that  Yiee-Presi- 
dent'Hoxie  agrees  to  the  following: 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  79 


"Willing  to  meet  a  committee  of  our  employes  without  discrimina- 
tion who  are  actually  at  work  in  the  service  of  the  company  at  the  time 
such  committee  is  appointed  to  adjust  with  them  any  grievances  that 

they  may  have. 

"  H.  M.  HOXIE." 

"  Have  your  Executive  Committee  order  the  men  to  return  to  work 
and  also  select  a  special  committee  from  the  employes  of  the  Missouri 
Pacific  to  wait  on  Mr.  Hoxie  to  adjust  any  difference.  Do  this  as  quickly 
as  possible.     Board  will  leave  for  St.  Louis  to-morrow. 

"FREDERICK  TURNER,  Secretary." 

"Master  Workmen  Local  Assemblies  District  101: 

"You  are  ordered  by  the  General  Executive  Board  to  go  to  work. 
Honor  demands  that  you  see  that  those  who  came  out  to  support  you 
go  to  work  first. 

[Signed]  "MARTIN  IRONS,  Chairman." 

"  St.  Louis,  March  31,  1886." 

Then  came  the  following  order : 

"  Noble  order  of  Knights  of  Labor  : 
Peace  and  Prosperity  to  the  Faithful. 
Sanctuary  of  Local  Assembly  No.  1212. 
East  St.  Louis,  III.,  March  31, 1  o'clock  p.  m. 

To  Members  of  Local  Executive  Board,  Greeting  : 

You  are  hereby  ordered  to  return  to  work  in  your  former  positions 
if  received.  If  not,  report  back  to  this  Joint  Board  of  District  Assem- 
blies 17,  101  and  93. 

[Signed]  M.  IRONS,  Chairman  101. 

[Seal  101]  A.  C.  CAUGHLIN,  Chairman  93. 

[Seal    93]  E.  F.  McKEON,  Secretary  93. 

How  this  order  was  received  and  executed  the  following  statement 
which  was  published  in  the  newspapers  of  April  1,  1SSG,  will  show  : 

"  To  the  Public  : 

"As  showing  the  sincerity  of  the  railroad  managers  in  their  treat- 
ment of  the  Knights  of  Labor  we  respectfully  state  that,  pursuant  to  the 
order  of  our  General  Executive  Board,  we  this  day  sent  committees  to 
the  managers  of  the  several  railroads,  offering  to  return  the  men  to 
work.  In  no  instance  would  they  be  received  or  treated  with,  each 
official  in  turn  either  refusing  them  a  hearing  or  evading  them  with 


80  BUREAU  OF  LABOR  STATISTICS. 


specious  subterfuges  for  direct  answers,  or  refusing;  them  employment. 
Mr.  Hoxie  has  agreed  to  receive  a  committee  of  employes  to  adjust  any 
grievances  which  may  exist.  He  refuses  personally  and  through  his 
subordinates  to  recognize  any  of  us  as  employes,  and  refuses  to  receive 
any  but  such  as  he  calls  employes.  In  short,  after  himself  and  Mr. 
Gould  have  conveyed  the  impression  to  the  world  that  they  are  willing 
to  settle,  they  refuse  to  settle.  Now  we  appeal  to  a  candid  and  suffer- 
ing public,  on  whom -is  falling  all  the  weight  of  this  great  conflict,  if  we 
have  not  been  deceived  enough?  How  much  is  long-suffering  labor  to 
bear?  This  great  strike  never  would  have  been  had  Mr.  Hoxie  con- 
descended months  ago  to  hear  our  complaints.  We  do  not  claim  to  be 
more  than  human.  It  should  not  be  expected  of  us  to  be  more  than 
human.  In  this  country  position  makes  no  man  king  or  slave,  and  im- 
perious refusal  on  the  part  of  one  citizen  to  confer  with  other  citizens 
with  whom  he  may  have  business  connections  when  such  refusal  begets 
great  business  and  social  revolution,  is  not  only  a  mistake,  but  a  crime 
against  the  public.  Mr.  Gould  is  invoking  the  law  against  little  crimi- 
nals who  are  made  desperate  by  his  poilcy  of  duplicity  and  oppression. 
Yet  a  terrorized  public  does  not  invoke  the  law  against  the  arch  crimi- 
nal of  the  land.  If  we  can  not  be  allowed  to  return  to  work  the 
strike  must  go  on. 

"By  order  of  Executive  Boards  District  Assemblies  101,  93  and  17." 

The  complications  which  were  caused  by  the  misunderstanding  on 
the  part  of  the  General  Executive  Committee  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  re- 
garding arbitration  tended  to  demoralize  the  heretofore  acknowledged 
leaders  of  the  strike,  whose  absolute  control  of  the  strikers  began  to 
weaken,  and  united  action  no  longer  prevailed,  and  in  its  place  turbu- 
lence and  viciousness  obtained  the  mastery.  To  such  an  extent  did 
this  state  of  affairs  prevail  that  it  became  evident  that  the  round-house 
and  machine  shops  at  HeSoto  were  in  immediate  danger  of  destruc- 
tion, and  accordingly  Governor  Marmaduke  ordered  to  that  place  two 
special  officers — T.  W.  Park  and  John  T.  Clark — who  were  armed  with 
plenary  power.  They  reasoned  and  remonstrated  with  the  des- 
perate strikers— over  seven  hundred  strong — drew  the  citizens  and 
officials,  the  latter  of  whom  were  mostly  Knights  of  Labor,  into  public 
meeting,  and  by  the  exercise  of  a  moral  influence  prevented  the  necessity 
of  the  service  of  a  military  force.  Order  was  restored  and  a  collision 
prevented,  which  would  have  involved  both  blood  and  treasure.  A. 
large  number  of  deputy  sheriffs  were  sworn  in  and  many  arrests  were 
made  and  the  catastrophe  averted.     One  attempt  to  derail  a  passenger 


BUREAU   OF  LABOR   STATISTICS.  81 


train  was  ineffectually  made,  but  nothing-  further  occurred  of  this  char- 
acter after  the  advent  of  the  officials.  Thus  it  was  generally  throughout 
Missouri.  Governor  Marmaduke's  wise,  conservative  and  impartial 
conduct  obtained  the  respect  of  all,  and  although  Missouri  was  the 
heart  and  seat  of  the  strike,  the  occasion  did  not  come  when  a  resort 
had  to  be  made  to  the  military  power  of  the  State. 

At  Parsons,  Kansas,  quite  a.  different  order  of  things  prevailed. 
The  situation  can  best  be  described  as  given  in  the  Topeka  Capital 
of  April  3 : 

"  THE    SITUATION    AT    PARSONS. 

"  We  give  below  the  facts  in  relation  to  affairs  at  Parsons  and  the 
ordering  out  of  the  militia  : 

"On  Monday  evening,  March  28,  the  Governor  received  dispatches 
from  the  Sheriff  of  Labette  County  and  the  Mayor  of  Parsons,  stating 
that  the  strikers  were  acting  outside  of  the  pale  law  ;  that  the  sheriff 
had  eighty  deputies  and  the  mayor  a  posse  of  two  hundred  citizens ; 
that  every  appeal  to  respect  the  law  was  met  with  shouts  of  derision ; 
that  forcible  attempts  were  made  to  pull  the  sheriff  from  his  position 
on  the  engine  ;  and  that  the  situation  was  such  that  the  use  of  firearms 
would  have  resulted  in  killing  or  wounding  a  number  of  people.  They 
declare  that  the  presence  of  a  military  force,  acting  under  State  author- 
ity, would  enable  the  radroad  company  to  move  its  trains  without 
bloodshed,  while  a  successful  effort  to  move  a  train  under  civil  author- 
ity would  unquestionably  be  accompanied  by  a  collision  and  bloodshed. 
They  therefore  called  upon  the  Governor,  as  Chief  Executive,  to  afford 
the  protection  which,  they  stated,  they  were  powerless  to  give,  and 
suggested  that  five  hundred  militia  be  ordered  there  at  once. 

"  Senator  Kimball  telegraphed  the  same  evening  that  the  facts 
stated  in  the  dispatch  of  the  mayor  and  sheriff  were  true,  and  that,  in 
his  opinion,  the  presence  of  troops  would  put  an  end  to  the  trouble 
without  bloodshed.  Representative  Kelso  telegraphed  on  the  same 
evening  that  there  was  in  that  city  an  organized  body  of  men  who  ap- 
peared determined  to  override  the  civil  authorities  and  to  trample  un- 
der foot  the  loyal  sentiment  of  law-abiding  citizens,  and  that  a  military 
force  was  necessary. 

"  The  papers  of  that  morning  and  evening  indicated  that  the  strike 
was  over,  and  the  Governor  so  informed  the  mayor  by  telegraph,  de- 
clining for  this  reason  to  send  troops. 

l  s — 6. 


82  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  30th  Sheriff  Woodford  and  Mayor  Brown 
telegraphed  that  they  could  not  furnish  the  necessary  assistance  to 
protect  the  moving  of  freight  trains ;  that  an  engine  was  disabled  at 
10:30  o'clock  that  morning;  and  they  renewed  their  demand  that  the 
Governor  give  them  the  requested  military  assistance  at  once.  Mayor 
Brown  also  telegraphed,  at  a  later  hour,  that  a  passenger  train 
approaching  the  city  on  the  previous  evening  was  ditched  by  removing 
fish  plates ;  that  great  loss  of  property  had  ensued ;  that  other  out- 
rages were  threatened,  and  would  be  attempted ;  that  the  civil  authori- 
ties were  powerless  to  enforce  the  law ;  and  he  renewed  the  request 
for  troops  at  once.  Senator  Kimball  and  representative  Kelso  sent 
dispatches  of  a  similar  nature. 

"Still  anxious  to  avoid  the  use  of  military  force,  the  Governor  tele- 
graphed that  it  was  the  universal  opinion  here  that  the  strike  would  be 
settled  that  day ;  that  order  was  being  restored  at  other  points ;  and 
that  it  was  better  to  wait  twenty-four  hours  than  to  have  trouble  just 
as  the  strike  seemed  approaching  an  end.  He  however  sent  the  Adjutant- 
General  to  Parsons  on  the  afternoon  train  to  ascertain  the  situation, 
and  to  endeavor  to  effect  a  peaceful  settlement. 

"  Colonel  Campbell  arrived  there  on  Tuesday  night,  and  remained 
until  Thursday  evening.  He  had  conference  with  the  officers  and  citi- 
zens, and  with  the  strikers.  He  was  unable  to  persuade  the  strikers 
to  desist  from  their  unlawful  proceedings.  On  Wednesday  attacks 
were  again  made  on  trains,  and  again  on  Thursday,  and  on  the  last  men- 
tioned date  Colonel  Campbell  telegraphed  the  Governor  that  all 
authority  was  deliberately  trampled  upon  and  set  at  defiance.  On  the 
first  instant  Bepresentative  H.  C.  Cook  also  telegraphed  the  Governor 
that  he  concurred  in  the  opinion  that  prompt  efforts  must  be  made  to 
enforce  respect  for  the  law  at  Parsons,  and  that  all  good  citizens  of 
Labette  county  were  anxious  that  it  be  done. 

"  During  the  four  days  of  the  week,  commencing  with  Monday  last, 
orders  were  issued  by  the  National  Committee  of  the  Knights  of  Labor, 
and  also  by  District  Assembly  committees,  to  the  effect  that  terms  for 
an  amicable  settlement  of  the  strike  had  been  arranged  by  the  confer- 
ence between  Jay  Gould  and  Mr.  Powderly.  All  advices  during  the 
whole  of  the  time  indicated  a  harmonious  and  satisfactory  adjustment 
of  the  trouble.  But  the  Parsons  strikers  never  for  a  moment  sus. 
pended  their  lawless  and  violent  demonstrations. 

"  On  Thursday  night  the  Governor  telegraphed  Adjutant-General 
Campbell  to  order  Colonel  Patrick  to  move  to  Parsons  as  many  com- 
panies of  his  regiment  as  might  be  necessary  to  sustain  the  civil  officers 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  83 

in  the  performance  of  their  duties,  acting  at  all  times  only  in  support 
•of  the  civil  authorities  in  preserving  order  and  enforcing  the  law.  The 
First  Regiment  of  the  Kansas  National  Guard,  in  accordance  with 
these  instructions,  started  to  Parsons  yesterday  morning.  Major-Gen- 
eral Thos.  M.  Carroll  will  also  go  to  Parsons,  in  person,  to  command 
the  forces. 

"  In  addition  to  the  telegrams  above  referred  to,  the  Governor  has 
also  received  a  petition,  signed  by  a  number  of  prominent  citizens  of 
Parsons,  appealing  for  the  presence  of  a  military  force  as  the  only 
means  of  enforcing  law  and  preserving  peace." 

Governor  Martin  expresses  himself  as  to  his  reasons  for  ordering 
the  militia  to  Parsons,  as  follows  : 

"  When  I  received  a  call  from  the  local  authorities  Monday  I 
thought  that  the  strike  was  about  over,  and  it  was  so  reported  in  all 
the  newspapers.  The  next  day  the  call  from  the  authorities  at  Par- 
sons was  repeated,  the  report  saying  that  the  mob  of  strikers  defied 
the  officers,  having  dragged  the  mayor  off  the  trains  and  perpetrated 
other  acts  of  violence.  The  authorities  were  constantly  importuning 
me  for  troops,  so  on  Wednesday  I  sent  Adjutant-General  Campbell  to 
Parsons  to  preserve  order,  if  possible.  General  Campbell  talked  to 
the  strikers  for  an  hour  or  more  in  a  hall,  but  without  perceptible 
effect.  The  strikers  acted  like  madmen,  and,  undisguised,  threw  rotten 
eggs  at  Senator  Kimball,  and  created  general  havoc  about  the  city. 
There  was  general  alarm,  and  as  the  court  authorities,  assisted  by  the 
Adjutant-General,  seemed  helpless,  late  last  evening  I  telegraphed  to 
General  Campbell  to  call  out  the  militia.  I  think  that  the  presence  of 
an  armed  force  will  have  the  desired  effect  on  the  men  and  have  a 
quieting  influence." 

Governor  Martin  was  correct  in  his  opinion  as  to  the  results  of 
ordering  troops  to  Parsons.  No  further  violent  demonstrations  were 
made,  and  after  a  few  days  the  troops  were  ordered  home. 

On  the  29th  and  30th  of  March  traffic  had  been  generally  resumed 
everywhere,  men  had  either  returned  to  work  in  the  shops  and  the 
yards,  or  their  places  filled  by  new  men.  The  strike,  as  a  power  to 
interfere  with  traffic,  was  practically  a  thing  of  the  past.  It  is  true 
that  when  Mr.  Powderly's  telegrams  came,  announcing  his  disagree- 
ment with  Mr.  Gould,  the  frenzy  that  follows  disappointment  was  let 
loose.  .  Trains  were  broken  up  and  officers  of  the  law  were  assailed  by 
mobs  of  hooting  men,  woman  and  boys  in  East  St.  Louis.  At  Texar- 
kana,  Arkansas,  Atchison  and  Parsons,  Kansas.  Palestine,  Texas,  and 
.Sedalia,  Missouri,  there   were   riotous   proceedings,  and  in   some  in- 


81  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

stances  trains  were  stopped,  but  still  no  delay  came  from  a  lack  of 
working  force,  but  simply  from  the  irresponsibility  of  disorganized  vio- 
lence. 

The  situation  in  East  St.  Louis  became  more  serious  day  after  day. 
On  the  30th  Adjutant-General  Vance,  of  Illinois,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Governor,  visited  that  place  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  personal 
investigation  into  the  condition  of  affairs  and  reporting  as  to  the 
necessity  of  military  intervention.  Orders  had  already  been  issued 
for  the  National  Guard  to  hold  itself  in  readiness  for  immediate  duty- 
The  situation  can  best  be  summed  up  in  the  following  telegram  : 

"  East  St.  Louis,  III.,  March  30,  1886. 
"  To  Governor  Oglesby,  Springfield,  III.: 

"  Your  dispatch  was  received  too  late  for  me  to  come  to  Spring- 
field, and  my  state  of  health  is  impaired  so  much  by  late  vigils  that  it- 
is  out  of  the  question  for  me  to  go  far  from  home.  I  called  the  posse 
at  East  St.  Louis  when  the  emergency  occurred.  Few  persons  re- 
sponded and  few  will.  There  are  nine  yards  here.  There  are  fully 
1,500  men  determined  that  no  freight  trains  shall  move.  They  respect 
no  authority,  and  seem  to  hold  the  State  of  Illinois  in  contempt.  It  is 
folly  to  think  of  moving  freight  trains  here  unless  the  State  sends  a 
strong  force.  All  attempts  to  do  so  would  result  in  failure  and  bring 
the  authorities  into  further  contempt.  Engines  have  been  killed  this 
morning,  and  the  freight  blockade  is  complete,  except  as  to  the  road  in 
the  hands  of  United  States  marshals.  The  strikers  seem  to  have  a 
strong  respect  for  the  United  States,  but  none  for  this  State. 

"FEED  EOPIEQUET, 
"  Sheriff  St.  Clair  County,  111." 

Just  ex  actly  what  was  the  cause  of  the  strike  in  East  St.  Louis 
has  not  been,  and  probably  will  never  be  known,  no  two  men  giving 
.te  same  reason.  Its  apparent  cause  was  because  they  were  receiv- 
ing, as  they  claimed,  less  wages  than  were  paid  in  Chicago  for  similar 
Yet  no  complaint  was  ever  made  nor  demands  presented.  The 
more  plausible  reason  probably  was  that  it  was  sympathetic  with  the 
strike  on  the  Southwest  System  and  an  attempt  to  force  the  recogni- 
tion of  the  order  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  by  the  railway  officials. 

At  Parsons,  Kansas,  a  passenger  train  was  wrecked  on  the  30th 
and  mail  agent  Moore  was  seriously  injured.  At  Atchison,  Kansas, 
the  strikers  served  notice  upon  the  men  who  had  accepted  work  with 
the  railway  company  to  quit  work  at  the  peril  of  their  lives.     At  Kan- 


BUREAU    OF  LABOR   STATISTICS.  85 


:sas  City,  Missouri,  a  freight  train  under  the  protection  of  the  police 
was  thrown  from  the  track  by  the  sudden  throwing  of  a  switch,  and 
eleven  cars  were  wrecked. 

Police  officer  Nugent  and  five  policemen  who  were  on  the  wrecked 
train  gave  pursuit  to  the  fleeing  wreckers.  Martin  Leon  was  quickly 
arrested,  but  D.  J.  Xoonan  was  shot  and  seriously  wounded  before  his 
capture  was  effected.  Both  men  were  identified  as  ex-railroad  em- 
ployes and  as  Knights  of  Labor.  At  nearly  all  other  points  on  the 
Southwest  System  trains  were  moved  without  opposition,  and  with 
something  of  former  regularity. 

Exciting  scenes  on  the  last  day  of  March  and  the  following  days  of 
April  were  being  enacted  at  Fort  Worth,  Texas.  At  1 :  30  p.  m.  an  en- 
gine carrying  a  posse  of  officers  intended  to  guard  a  train  into  Alvar- 
ado,  Texas,  was  suddenly  approached  by  six  men  and  killed.  Later  in 
the  day  a  train  of  thirty  cars  was  assailed  by  a  howling  mob  "  who 
climbed  up  the  sides  of  the  cars  like  ants."  The  officers  in  heavy  force 
did  all  that  men  could  do  to  restrain  the  mob,  except  actually  killing, 
but  the  brakes  were  set,  pins  removed,  and  when  the  engine  departed 
it  bore  only  six  of  the  thirty  cars  with  which  it  entered  the  yards.  One 
striker  was  knocked  down  by  a  revolver  in  the  hands  of  a  United 
Stales  marshal,  and  several  arrests  were  made.  The  "hoodlum"  ele- 
ment of  the  town  had  come  to  the  assistance  of  the  strikers,  and  sat- 
urated with  intoxicants,  all  restraint  was  abandoned.  At  ten  o'clock 
the  next  day  another  effort  was  made  by  the  officers  to  move  a  train, 
but  it  was  equally  unsuccessful,  some  2,000  or  3,000  men  attacking  it 
and  succeeding  in  pulling  all  the  coupling  pins. 

On  the  morning  of  the  next  day  an  engine  loaded  with  armed  offi- 
cers pulled  out  and  steamed  to  the  Missouri  Pacific  yards.  It  was 
hooted  at  and  hissed,  but  was  permitted  to  attach  a  caboose  and  back 
up  to  a  station  named  "  Hodges,"  from  which  it  was  to  pull  a  freight 
train  into  the  city.  At  11 :  35  a.  M.  it  returned  with  the  train  and  pro- 
ceeded on  its  way  south.  At  this  time  it  was  unmolested  except  by  the 
wild  demonstrations  of  three  women  with  a  red  flag.  A  local  report 
says  that  when  the  train  left  the  depot  it  was  under  the  protection  of 
a  posse  of  twelve  officers  commanded  by  J.  Courtright,  a  special 
deputy  marshal.  Some  of  these  officers  were  deputy  marshals  and 
others  were  regular  police.  We  now  quote,  in  preference  to  the  con- 
flicting accounts  of  excited  men,  from  a  special  dispatch  to  the  St. 
Louis  Republican,  which  is  about  as  correct  as  any  account  we  can 
gather  : 


86  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 


"  The  train  proceeded  slowly  to  the  crossing  of  the  Fort  Worth  & 
New  Orleans  Railroad  about  a  mile  and  a  half  south  from  town,  where 
it  stopped  as  is  customary  before  crossing.  The  switch  was  found 
open,  and  two  men  stood  near  the  crossing.  The  officers  approached 
the  switch  and  as  they  did  so  they  discovered  live  men  with  Winchester 
rifles,  partly  concealed  in  the  weeds  a  few  yards  distant.  The  entire 
party  advanced  towards  the  men  in  ambush.  They  had  reached  the 
switch,  when  the  chief  of  the  posse  of  deputies  called  out  for  the  fel- 
lows to  throw  up  their  hands.  Instead  of  complying  the  men  in  am- 
bush suddenly  sprang  to  their  feet,  and  bringing  their  Winchesters  to 
bear,  fired  a  volley  at  the  officers.  The  fire  was  returned  several  times, 
but  their  aim  must  have  been  bad,  judging  from  the  results.  As  the 
firing  proceeded  the  men  retreated  in  very  bad  order  to  a  rank  of  tie 
timber,  ensconsced  behind  which  they  were  comparatively  out  of  dan- 
ger. They  made  a  momentary  stand  there,  but  were  dislodged  and 
broke  on  a  wild  run  for  the  sycamore  bottoms  and  were  soon  lost  sight 
of.  The  deputy  sheriffs  did  not  follow  them  but  gave  their  attention  to 
the  victims.  It  was  found  that  Richard  Townsend,  a  special  deputy 
sheriff,  was  shot  in  the  back  as  he  stood  on  the  engine,  the  ball  passing- 
through  his  left  lung  and  coming  out  on  bis  left  side.  Charles  Sneed, 
another  deputy  sheriff,  was  shot  near  the  ear,  the  ball  coming  out  on 
the  opposite  side  of  his  head  near  his  mouth.  Both  these  men  will  die. 
Police  officer  John  Fulford  was  shot  in  both  thighs,  one  of  the  balls 
ranging  upward  into  his  body.  His  wounds  are  dangerous.  Jim  Court- 
right  is  claimed  to  have  received  two  bullets  through  his  hat,  but 
escaped  unharmed. 

"The  wounded  men  were  put  in  the  caboose  of  the  train  and 
brought  back  to  the  city.  Fulford,  after  having  his  wounds  dressed,. 
was  taken  to  his  home,  and  the  other  two  men  to  the  Missouri  Pacific 
hospital. 

"  About  two  o'clock  this  afternoon  one  of  the  strikers,  who  was  in 
the  attacking  party,  was  brought  to  the  city  shot  through  the  thigh. 
His  name  is  Tom  Nace.  He  was  a  switchman  here  at  the  time  the 
strike  began.  *  *  *  It  is  stated  by  parties  who  were  on  the  train 
when  the  trouble  occurred  that  three  of  the  strikers  fell  beneath  the* 
fire  of  the  officers,  two  of  whom  did  not  rise  after  falling. 

"  A  lady,  who  lives  near  the  spot  where  the  fight  occurred,  recog- 
nized one  of  the  men  who  ran  off  into  the  river  bottom,  and  says  that 
he  carried  a  Winchester  rifle  in  each  hand.  He  had  been  engaged  in 
the  carpentering  business  in  this  city,  and  is  regarded  as  an  out-and- 
out  communist." 


BUREAU    OF  LABOR   STATISTICS.  87 

As  to  the  number  of  men  engaged  on  the  part  of  the  strikers  much 
uncertainty  exists.      Probably  their  number   was   twelve  or   fifteen. 
Townsend  died  of  his  wounds,  and  Siieedjmd  Fulford  subsequently 
recovered.     This  tragedy,  so  near  the  conclusion  of  the  strike,  and 
while  trains  were  moving  everywhere,  produced  an  excitement  that., 
foreboded  trouble  everywhere.      The   prompt  response  of  Governor  /) 
Ireland  to  a  call  for  military  aid  gave  some  assurance  of  the  restoration  ( 
of  order.     He  rapidly  ordered  militia  to  Fort  Worth. 

On  April  3,  1886,  Messrs.  Turner  and  Bailey,  members  of  the  Gen- 
eral Executive  Board  of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  arrived  in  St.  Louis  and 
held  an  informal  interview  with  Mr.  Hoxie  at  his  office. 

Mr.  Hoxie  frankly  stated  that  he  could  not  receive  them  in  their 
official  capacity  as  officers  of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  but  would  talk  to 
them  as  private  citizens.  In  this  meeting  Mr.  Hoxie  stated  that  he 
would,  as  he  had  many  times  previously  expressed  himself,  meet  a  com- 
mittee of  workingmen  who  at  the  time  were  actually  employed  in  Jris 
service  to  hear  grievances,  but  he  would  not  meet  a  committee  of  men 
who  were  not  in  his  service  ;  while  Messrs.  Turner  and  Bailey  insisted 
such  a  committee  should  be  selected  by  the  Executive  Committee  of 
Knights  of  Labor. 

After  deliberating  upon  this  interview  wherein  to  the  unprejudiced 
observer  the  technical  difference  between  Mr.  Hoxie  and  the  represen- 
tatives of  the  General  Executive  Board  consisted  merely  in  the  fact 
that  Avhile  Mr.  Hoxie  was  willing  to  meet  a  committee  of  his  employes 
at  work  for  him,  the  Executive  Board  held  that  the  striking  Knights  of 
Labor  should  be  recognized  through  their  chosen  representatives,  the 
following  was  promulgated : 

"St.  Louis,  Mo.,  April  5,  1886. 

"At  the  conference  held  in  New  York  with  Jay  Gould  and  his  asso- 
ciates, and  the  General  Executive  Board,  the  following  was  mutually 
agreed  upon  with  Mr.  Hoxie : 

"  That  he  was  willing  to  meet  a  committee  of  his  employes  without 
discrimination,  who  were  at  work  in  the  service  of  the  company  at  the 
time  such  Committee  is  appointed  to  adjust  with  them  any  grievances 
that  they  may  have.  The  General  Executive  Board,  upon  its  arrival  in 
St.  Louis,  having  been  informed  that  Mr.  Hoxie  has  refused  to  comply 
with  the  agreement  as  all  parties  to  the  conference  understood  it,  waited 
upon  him  to  ascertain  his  intention  of  carrying  out  the  same,  and  received 
the  following  as  his  intentions :  That  only  fifty  per  cent,  of  his  former 
force  would  be  needed  and  that  he  would  consider  personal  applications 


88  BUEEAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

only,  and  use  his  own  pleasure  as  to  their  employment,  without  the 
dictation  of  any  society  or  committee.  This  being  in  direct  violation 
of  the  agreement,  the  General  Executive  Board  still  further  believes 
the  refusal  to  carry  out  said  agreement  is  done  for  the  purpose  of  stock- 
jobbing speculation  in  New  York  by  using  our  organization  as  a  bid  to 
further  those  ends. 

"They,  therefore,  recall  the  order  issued  by  us  for  the  men  to  return 
to  work,  the  company  having  made  it  impossible  for  its  execution  and 
the  proper  fulfillment  of  the  same.  The  matter  now  stands  as  it  did 
previous  to  the  order  being  issued  to  resume  work,  in  the  hands  of 
those  districts  interested,  and  the  general  executive  board  will  render 
all  possible  assistance  in  carrying  out  the  demands  of  the  men  for  justice. 

"FREDERICK  TURNER,  Secretary. 

"JOHN  W.  HAYES, 

"W.  H.  BAILEY, 

"  For  the  Executive  Board." 

This  was  quickly  followed  by  the  proclamation  of  the  district  As- 
semblies : 

"To  the  Working  Men  of  the  World: 

"Friends  and  brothers,  hear  us,  for  we  plead  for  our  right ;  men  of 
equity,  look  upon  us,  for  we  struggle  against  giants  of  wrong. 

"Mad  with  the  frenzy  of  pride  and  self-adulation,  begotten,  as  it  is, 
of  the  success  of  outrage  and  infamy,  there  stands  before  us  a  giant  of 
aggregated  and  incorporated  wealth,  every  dollar  of  which  is  built  upon 
blood,  injustice  and  outrage.  That  giant  of  corporate  wealth  has 
centralized  its  power  in  and  is  impersonated  by  the  eager  fiend  who 
gloats  as  he  grinds  the  life  out  of  his  fellow-men,  and  grimaces  and 
dances  as  they  writhe  upon  his  instruments  of  torture. 

"Oh!  ye  working-men  of  America,  who  love  your  liberty  and  your 
native  land  ;  ye  great  creators  of  wealth,  who  stand  as  the  foundation 
of  all  national  good,  look  upon  your  brothers  to-day  !  Gould,  the  giant 
fiend ;  Gould,  the  money  monarch,  is  dancing,  as  he  claims,  over  the 
grave  of  our  order,  over  the  ruin  of  our  homes  and  the  blight  of  our 
lives.  Before  him  the  world  has  smiled  in  beauty,  but  his  wake  is  a 
graveyard  of  hopes,  a  cyclone's  path  of  devastation  and  death.  Our 
strong  arms  have  grown  weary  in  building  the  tower  of  his  strength 
and  yet  he  bids  us  build  on  or  die.  Our  young  lives  have  grown  gray 
too  soon  beneath  the  strain  of  unrequiting,  constant  toil.  Our  loved 
ones  at  home  are  hollow-cheeked  and  pale  with  long  and  weary  waiting 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  89 

for  better  days  to  come;  nay,  more  than  this,  the  graveyards  are  hiding 
his  victims  from  our  longing  eyes. 

"Brother  Workmen,  this  monster  fiend  has  compelled  some  of  us  to 
toil  in  cold  and  rain  for  five  and  fifty  cents  a  day.  Others  have  been 
compelled  to  yield  their  time  to  him  for  seventeen  and  thirty-six  hours 
for  the  pittance  of  nine  hours'  pay.  Others,  who  had  dared  to  assert 
their  manhood  and  rebel  against  his  tyranny,  are  blacklisted  and  boy- 
cotted all  over  the  land. 

"He  has  made  solemn  compacts  with  the  highest  authority  in  our 
order  and  then  has  basely  refused  to  fulfill  his  pledges. 

"He  lives  under  and  enjoys  all  the  benefits  of  a  republican  form 
of  government,  and  yet  advocates  and  perpetuates  the  most  debasing 
form  of  white  slavery. 

"  He  robs  the  rich  and  poor,  the  high  and  low,  with  ruthless  hand, 
and  then  appeals  to  corrupt  and  purchased  courts  to  help  him  to  take 
our  little  homes  away. 

"He  breaks  our  limbs  and  maims  our  bodies  and  demands  that  we 
shall  release  him  from  every  claim  for  damages  or  be  blacklisted  for- 
ever. 

"  He  goes  to  our  grocers  and  persuades  them  not  to  give  us  credit, 
because  we  refuse  to  be  ground  in  his  human  mill. 

"  He  turns  upon  us  a  horde  of  lawless  thugs  who  shoot  among  our 
wives  and  children  with  deadly  intent,  and  then  he  howls  for  govern- 
ment help  when  he  gets  his  pay  in  coin  alike. 

"Fellow-workmen,  Gould  must  be  overthrown;  his  giant  power 
must  be  broken,  or  you  and  I  must  be  slaves  forever.  The  Knights  of 
Labor  alone  have  dared  to  be  a  David  to  this  Goliath.  The  battle  is  not 
for  to-day;  the  battle  is  not  for  to-morrow,  but  for  the  trooping  genera- 
tions behind  us  in  the  coming  ages  of  the  world  ;  for  our  children  and 
our  children's  children.  'Tis  the  great  question  of  the  age.  Shall  we 
in  this  coming  age  be  a  nation  of  freemen,  or  a  nation  of  slaves  ?  This 
question  must  be  decided  now.  The  chains  are  already  forged  that 
are  to  bind  us.  Shall  we  wait  until  they  are  riveted  upon  our  limbs  ? 
May  God  forbid ! 

"  'Workmen  of  the  world,  marshal  yourselves  upon  the  battle-field ; 
workmen  of  the  world,  of  every  trade  and  clime,  on  to  the  fray.  Gould 
and  his  monopolies  must  go  down,  or  your  children  must  be  slaves. 
Think  of  the  little  olive  plants  around  your  hearth  stones  that  will  be 
blighted  by  his  course.  Think  of  the  little  home  he  is  seeking  to  rob 
you  of.  Think  of  the  wife  from  whose  eyes  he  has  wrung  floods  of  tears 
and  from  whose  heart  he  has  tortured  drops  of  blood. 


90  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 


"  Who  can  look  upon  his  perfidy,  his  outrage  and  his  crimes,  for 
he  has  sought  to  incite  felony  among  our  rank  and  file  ;  he  has  brought 
the  perfidy  of  vile  men  to  entrap  the  unwary  that  he  might  stain  our 
fair  name  and  gloat  over  our  misfortunes. 

"  Once  for  all,  fellow-workmen,  arouse  !  Let  every  hand  that  toils 
be  lifted  to  heaven  and  swear  by  Him  that  liveth  forever,  that  these 
outrages  must  close. 

"Let  every  breast  and  brow  be  trained  toward  our  common  foe,  and 
let  no  man  grow  weary  until,  like  Goliath,  our  giant  is  dead  at  our  feet. 

"  By  order  of  Executive  Boards  101,  93  and  17." 

The  strike,  if  such  it  could  now  be  called,  dragged  its  weary  length 
along  through  the  month  of  April  without  incident  of  any  graver  char- 
acter than  petty  annoyances,  such  as  the  occasional  killing  of  an  engine, 
the  derailment  of  a  train,  the  marching  of  troops  and  the  unending 
issuance  of  orders  and  passage  of  resolutions  and  correspondence  of 
all  kinds.  The  quantity  of  this  peculiar  mass  of  matter,  some  useful, 
but  most  of  it  trivial,  would  fill  a  volume.  Only  that  part  of  this  cor- 
respondence, necessary  to  a  historical  sequence  to  the  narrative,  is  here 
given.  Trains  were  running  over  all  the  roads  of  the  Southwestern 
System,  freight  was  being  everywhere  received  and  transmitted,  and 
the  shops  and  yards  were  manned  with  a  complement  of  new  men  and 
large  numbers  of  those  who  had  returned  to  work. 

On  the  11th  of  April  Grand  Master  Workman  Powderly  addressed 
the  following  letter  to  Mr.  Jay  Gould: 

"  Scbanton,  Pa.,  April  11,  1880. 
"Jay  Gould,  Esq.,  President  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad: 

"  Dear  SiR^-The  events  of  the  past  forty-eight  hours  must  have 
demonstrated  to  you  the  absolute  necessity  of  bringing  this  terrible 
struggle  in  the  Southwest  to  a  speedy  termination.  You  have  the 
power,  the  authority,  and  the  means  to  bring  the  strike  to  an  end.  I 
have  done  everything  in  my  power  to  end  the  strife.  The  gentlemen 
associated  with  me  on  the  General  Executive  Board  of  the  Knights  of 
Labor  have  done  the  same.  Everything  consistent  with  honor  and 
manhood  has  been  done  in  the  interest  of  peace.  Xo  false  notions  of 
pride  or  dignity  have  swayed  us  in  our  dealings  with  you  or  the  gen- 
tlemen associated  with  you. 

"  In  that  conference  with  you  on  Sunday,  March  28,  I  understood 
you  to  mean  that  arbitration  would  be  agreed  to  ;  the  only  method  of 
arbitration  that  was  discussed  was  in  line  with  that  suggested  in  the 


BUREAU  OF  LABOR  STATISTICS.  91 


letter  which  I  sent  to  you  in  the  name  of  our  board  the  day  previous  ; 
there  was  nothing  particular  agreed  upon,  as  you  well  know.  You  said 
that  in  arbitrating  the  matter,  the  damages  sustained  by  the  company 
during  the  strike  ought  to  receive  consideration.  I  said  too  that  it 
would  not  be  the  part  of  wisdom  to  bring  that  question  up  in  the  set- 
tlement of  the  strike.  When  I  called  upon  you  again  that  evening  you 
had  prepared,  as  the  result  of  your  understanding  of  the  morning's 
interview,  a  letter  which  you  intended  to  give  inc.  That  letter  in- 
cluded a  telegram  to  be  sent  to  Mr.  Hoxie,  and  in  that  telegram  you 
said  that  the  damages  sustained  by  the  company  would  be  a  proper 
subject  for  the  arbitration  board  to  discuss.  This  latter  part  of  the 
letter  or  telegram  you  agreed  to  strike  off  after  we  had  talked  the  mat- 
ter over  for  some  time,  and  I  left  you  as  you  were  about  to  go  to  your 
room  to  rewrite  the  letter  which  you  afterwards  placed  in  the  hands  of 
Mr.  McDowell  to  be  given  to  me,  for  I  had  to  leave  at  that  time  in  or- 
order  to  keep  an  appointment  at  the  hotel  where  I  stopped.  The  state- 
ment which  you  have  siin-e  then  made  to  the  effect  that  you  had  pre- 
pared that  letter  before  I  called  is  not  quite  correct,  or  if  you  did 
have  it  prepared  you  changed  it  after  we  talked  the  matter  over  for 
some  time.  This  I  believe  you  will  admit  to  be  true.  In  the  confer- 
ence held  between  the  members  of  our  Executive  Board  and  the  di- 
rectors of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Company  at  No.  195  Broadway  on  March 
30,  you  said  to  me  that  you  understood  me  to  say  that  the  men  along 
your  lines  would  be  ordered  back  to  work  at  once,  they  having  violated 
the  rules  of  our  organization. 

"  I  then  reiterated  the  statement  which  I  have  made  to  you  and 
now  repeat  it:  'The  men  out  along  the  lines  of  your  railways  can  be 
ordered  back  to  work,  but  if  they  are  given  to  understand  that  they 
are  deserted,  that  we  do  not  take  any  interest  in  them,  it  will  not  in 
any  way  mend  matters;  on  the  contrary,  it  will  make  things  worse. 
There  are,  all  along  the  roads  out  there,  a  great  many  men  who  have 
no  regard  for  organization  or  law,  men  of  hardy  spirit,  energy  and  dar- 
ing. Such  men  as  have  left  the  East  and  have  taken  up  their  liomes 
out  in  a  wild  country  such  as  that  is  will  not  submit  as  quietly  as  the 
men  they  have  left  behind  in  the  East ;  they  are  apt  to  do  rasher  things 
than  they  could  do  elsewhere,  and  I  have  no  doubt  we  have  some  in 
our  order,  in  fact  my  experience  with  the  men  of  that  vast  section 
leads  me  to  think  that  the  men  on  both  sides  out  there  are  more  dare- 
devilish  than  they  are  in  the  East.  Even  the  business  men  of  that 
country  are  of  that  stamp  of  character.' 

"Both  you  and  Mr.  Hopkins  heard  me  make  that  statement,  and  I 


92  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 


believe  the  latter  agreed  that  that  was  his  experience  also.  The  danger 
of  the  strike  spreading  was  also  discussed,  and  I  said  to  you  that  it 
would  not  spread,  that  an  effort  had  been  made  to  have  the  men  of  the 
Union  Pacific  take  a  part  in  it,  but  that  the  Knights  of  Labor  on  that 
road  had  a  standing  agreement  with  the  management  of  the  road  that 
there  was  to  be  no  trouble  or  strike  until  the  last  effort  to  effect  a  set- 
tlement had  failed  ;  and  not  then  until  the  court  of  last  resort  had 
been  reached.  When  I  made  that  statement  Mr.  Hopkins  remarked 
that  they  had  better  strike  then,  for  if  they  did  not  the  Union  Pacific 
would  not  much  longer  have  sufficient  money  to  pay  their  employes. 
The  impression  made  on  me  was  that  you  would  be  pleased  to  see  a 
strike  take  place  on  the  Union  Pacific. 

"  This,  I  believe,  covers  the  chief  points  of  discussion.  I  did  not 
hear  either  you  or  Hopkins  say  that  the  present  trouble  out  along  your 
road  would  not  be  arbitrated  with  the  men  who  were  not  at  work.  It 
was  my  firm  belief  when  I  left  you  that  night  that  you  meant  to  have 
the  entire  affairs  submitted  to  arbitration  at  the  first  possible  moment. 
That  belief  is  shared  by  Mr.  McDowell,  who  was  present  during  the 
entire  interview. 

"  When  you  sent  the  telegram  to  Mr.  Hoxie  you  sent  it  as  Presi- 
dent of  The  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad  Company.  You  sent  it  as  the 
chief  sends  his  message  to  an  inferior  officer,  and  it  meant  as  much  to 
a  sensible  man  as  the  most  imperative  order  could  possibly  mean. 
When  I,  as  the  chief  officer  of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  send  a  message 
such  as  that,  it  is  understood  to  be  my  wishes  and  those  wishes  are 
respected  by  the  subordinate  officer  to  whom  they  are  sent.  It  is  not 
his  place  to  put  a  different  construction  on  them  and  give  them  his  own 
interpretation.  His  duty  is  to  obey  the  spirit  of  the  instruction.  The 
man  in  power  need  not  be  an  autocrat  in  order  to  have  his  wishes  re- 
spected. '  I  would  like  to  see  it  done,'  comes  with  as  great  a  force 
from  the  man  in  authority  as  '  I  must  have  it  done.'  That  was  the  idea 
that  I  entertained  when  I  left  your  house  that  night.  I  also  explained 
to  you  at  your  house  that  night  that  the  men  who  had  entered  upon 
the  strike  had  not  violated  any  law  of  the  order  in  so  doing ;  that  while 
I  thought  it  would  have  been  better  if  they  had  laid  their  grievances 
before  the  General  Executive  Board  before  striking,  yet  there  was 
nothing  in  our  laws  to  command  them  to  do  so.  I  said  that  a  District 
Assembly  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  bore  the  same  relation  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  of  which  I  was  the  chief  officer,  that  one  of  the  States 
of  the  American  Union  had  to  the  general  Government  of  the  United 
States,  and  that  while  I  could  interfere,  it  was  under  the  law  which 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  93 

gave  me  jurisdiction  over  the  entire  order,  and  not  under  any  particu- 
lar law.  I  furthermore  explained  to  you  that  the  spirit  of  our  organi- 
zation, its  genius,  was  opposed  to  strikes,  and  that  was  the  reason  why 
our  general  convention  never  enacted  any  particular  legislation  for  the 
government  of  them.  I  also  said  that  the  occasion  had  never  before 
called  for  any  interference  from  the  general  officers,  but  that  this  strike 
would  show  the  necessity  of  the  passage  at  our  next  convention  of 
laws  that  would  place  the  subject  of  strikes  under  the  control  of  the 
General  Executive  Board  of  the  general  order. 

"When  on  Monday,  March  29,  you  sent  me  the  letter  marked 
'Personal,'  you  at  the  same  time  told  a  newspaper  correspondent  that 
you  had  done  so.  What  your  motive  was  in  marking  your  letter  '  Per- 
sonal,' and  at  the  same  time  informing  a  representative  of  the  press 
that  you  so  addressed  me,  I  do  not  know,  nor  do  I  question  your 
motive.  I  felt  it  to  be  my  duty  to  let  the  public  see  the  letter,  which 
contained  nothing  of  a  personal  nature  whatever.  There  are  people 
who  might  be  uncharitable  enough  to  say  that  your  intention  was  to 
give  out  the  impression  that  there  was  something  between  you  and  me 
which  would  not  bear  the  light  of  public  scrutiny.  I  have  had  no  such 
dealings  with  any  man  since  this  trouble  began,  nor  previous  to  that 
time.  I  am  quite  willing  to  allow  the  fullest  light  possible  to  shine 
upon  my  every  transaction.     I  have  nothing  to  conceal. 

"You  can  settle  this  strike.  Its  longer  continuance  rests  with 
you  and  you  alone.  Every  act  of  violence,  every  drop  of  blood  that 
may  be  shed  from  this  time  forth  must  be  laid  at  your  door.  The 
Knights  of  Labor  were  not  founded  to  promote  or  shield  wrong-doing, 
and  to-day  the  Order  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  stands  between  your 
property  and  ruin.  We  are  willing  to  absolve  the  men  along  your 
railways  from  their  allegiance  to  our  order.  We  leave  that  to  them- 
selves. We  will  not  allow  any  claims  which  the  order  may  have  on 
them  to  stand  between  them  and  their  restoration  to  their  former  posi- 
tions. The  Order  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  asks  of  no  man  to  remain  a 
member  if  it  is  not  to  his  interest  to  do  so.  You  may  deal  with  them 
as  citizens  if  you  will.  We  will  surrender  our  right  to  claim  these  men 
as  members  if  they  wish,  but  we  will  not  surrender  our  right  to  see  this 
affair  thoroughly  investigated. 

"You  have  said  that  the  Order  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  was  a  con- 
spiracy, a  secret  menace,  etc.  I  am  willing,  as  the  chief  officer,  to  lay 
everything  connected  with  our  order  bare  to  the  world,  if  you  will,  on 
the  other  hand,  lay  open  to  the  public  the  means  and  methods  whereby 
you  have  piled  up  the  wealth  which  you  control,  and  allow  the  tribunal 


94:  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

of  public  opinion  to  pass  in  judgment  on  the  two  and  say  which  is  the 
conspiracy.     Do  you  accept  the  challenge  ? 

"  You  have  instructed  your  legal  adviser  to  proceed  against  every 
man  connected  with  the  Knights  of  Labor  for  the  damages  sustained 
since  the  strike  began.  Two  weeks  ago  I  said:  'Do  not  do  this.' 
To-day  I  say  begin  at  once,  lay  claims  for  damages  in  every  court  within 
whose  jurisdiction  a  Knight  exists.  Proceed  at  once,  and  in  every 
State  where  you  can  recover  damages  do  so  if  the  law  will  sustain  you 
in  it.  Let  the  majesty  of  the  law  be  vindicated;  it  is  just  and  right 
that  it  should  be  so.  We  are  willing  to  face  you  before  the  law.  AVe 
will  tight  you  with  no  other  weapon.  For  every  violation  of  the  law  of 
State  or  Nation  we  will  enter  suit  against  you,  and  in  this  crusade 
against  you  do  not  understand  that  we  mean  to  persecute  you.  On  the 
contrary,  we  wish  to  see  the  law  vindicated.  If  you  have  at  all  times 
obeyed  the  law  in  your  dealings,  in  the  methods  by  which  you  have 
acquired  your  immense  fortune,  then  it  is  time  that  the  many  offenses 
with  which  you  are  charged  should  be  refuted.  You  have  remained 
silent  under  many  a  damaging  charge  of  injuring  the  State.  We  will 
be  your  avengers.  If  you  have  been  wronged  we  will  let  it  be  known 
to  the  world  through  the  medium  of  the  courts  of  justice.  And.  let  me 
say  right  here  that  no  money  will  buy  a  verdict  at  the  hands  of  these 
courts. 

"  There  are  people  who  say  that  this  struggle  is  the  beginning  of 
the  war  between  capital  and  labor.  That  statement  is  false.  This  cer- 
tainly means  war;  but  it  is  a  war  between  legitimate  capital,  honest 
enterprise  and  honest  labor  on  the  one  hand,  and  illegitimate  wealth  on 
the  other  hand.  This  is  a  war  in  which  we  court  the  fullest  investiga- 
tion of  our  acts.  Do  you  dare  to  do  the  same  ?  This  war  means  no 
further  strike,  no  shedding  of  blood;  it  is  a  war  in  which  every  busi- 
ness man,  every  commercial  man,  every  professional  man,  every  work- 
ingman  will  be  invited  to  enlist.  It  will  not  be  a  war  upon  the  inno- 
cent, and  the  battle-field  upon  which  it  will  be  fought  out  will  be  before 
the  two  courts — of  law  and  that  which  makes  law,  public  opinion. 
There  will  be  no  mobs  in  this  supreme  hour  to  silence  any  man's 
opinion.  No  converts  will  be  made  by  physical  force.  'That  flag  that 
floats  over  press  or  mansion  at  the  bidding  of  a  mob,  disgraces  both  victor 
and  victim,'  and  under  such  a  flag  as  that  we  will  not  wage  the  battle ; 
but  this  battle  of  the  pedple  against  monopoly  may  as  well  be  fought 
out  now  as  ten  years  from  now,  and  what  field  so  eminently  proper  in 
which  to  fight  it  out  as  before  the  courts?  Let  us  know  whether  laws 
were  made  to  be  obeyed  or  not ;  and  if  they  were  not  so  framed,  then 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  95 

the  people  must  make  laws  that  will  be  obeyed.  No  man,  whether  lie 
be  rich  or  whether  he  be  the  poorest  of  the  poor,  shall  in  future  shirk 
the  responsibility  of  his  acts  and  shield  himself  behind  the  courts.  It 
was  to  see  that  the  laws  were  obeyed  that  the  Order  of  the  Knights  of 
Labor  was  founded,  and  if  the  day  lias  come  to  make  the  trial,  so  let 
it  be. 

"I  do  not  write  this  letter  to  you  either  in  the  spirit  of  anger  or  re- 
venge.    For  you  personally  I  have  no  dislike.     I  believe  if  allowed  to 
follow  your  own  impulses  in  this  matter  you  would  have  had  the  strike 
ended  ere  this.     Those  who  advise  you  do  not  mingle  with  the  people, 
they  do  not  care  for  the  people.     You  have  been  warned  that  your  life 
is  in  danger.     Pay  no  attention  to  such  talk ;  no  man  who  has  the  in- 
terest of  his  country  at  heart  would  harm  a  hair  of  your  head.     But  the 
system  which  reaches  out  on  all  sides,  gathering  in  the  millions  of  dol- 
lars of  treasure  and  keeping  them  out  of  the  legitimate  channels  of 
trade  and  commerce,  must  die,  and  the  men  whose  money  is  invested  in 
the  enterprises  which  stock-gambling  has  throttled,  must  make  common 
cause  with  those  who  have  been  denied  the  right  to   earn  enough  to 
provide  the  merest  necessaries  of  life  for  home  and  family.     When  I 
say  to  you  that  we  will  meet  you  in  the  courts,  I  do  not  speak  rashly  or 
ill-advisedly.     I  have  taken  counsel  from  the  best  legal  minds  of  the 
United  States.     We  are  prepared  to  face  you  before  the  courts  and 
now  await  your  action  in  the  matter.     This  is  no  threat.     I  play  no 
game  of  bluff  or  chance.     I  speak  for  500,000  organized  men  who  are 
ready  to  pay  out  the  last  farthing  in  order  that  justice  may  prevail. 
You  have  it  in  your  power  to  make  friends  of  these  men  by  acting  the 
part  of  the  man,  by  taking  this  matter  in  your  own  hands.     Will  you 
do  so,  and  end  this  strife  in  the  interest  of  humanity  and  our  common 
country?     It  is  your  duty  to  brush  aside  every  obstacle,  assert  your 
authority  and  take  this  matter  in  your  hands,  settle  every  grievance, 
restore  every  man  to  his  place,  except  those  who  have  been  engaged 
in  the  destruction  of  property  or  who  have  broken  the  laws.     Will  you 
do  this  ?     You  can  then  make  rules  and  agreements  with  your  men 
which  will  forever  preclude  the  possibility  of  another  such  disastrous 
■conflict  as  this  one  has  proved  itself  to  be. 
"  I  remain  yours  very  truly, 

"T.  V.  POWDEKLY,  G.  M.  W.,  K.  of  L." 


90  BUREAU   OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

Mr.  Gould  replied  to  this  letter  as  follows  : 

"  New  York,  April  14,  1886.    . 
"  T.  V.  Powderly,  Esq.,  G.  M.  W.,  K.  of  L. : 

Dear  Sir — At  12  o'clock  to-day  I  received  from  Mr.  William  O. 
McDowell,  whom  you  brought  with  you  to  our  recent  conferences,  a 
letter  in  which  he  says : 

" '  By  yesterday's  mail  I  received  a  letter  written  by  Mr.  Powderly 
addressed  to  you,  inclosed  in  a  letter  addressed  to  me.  With  this,  I 
hand  you  the  letter  addressed  to  you  by  Mr.  Powderly,  and  a  copy  of 
Mr.  Powderly's  letter  to  me  enclosing  the  same.' 

"  The  following  is  a  copjr  of  the  letter  Mr.  McDowell  sent  me  as 
coming  from  you  : 

"  '  General  Assembly,  Order  of  K.  of  L.  of  America, 
Office  of  General  Master  Workman, 

Scranton,  Pa.,  April  13,  1886. 

'"My  Dear  Mr.  McDowell  :  I  inclose  you  a  letter  which  you 
are  to  read  and  deliver  to  the  man  for  whom  it  is  intended.  I  do  not 
care  whether  you  deliver  it  in  person  or  through  the  medium  of  another,, 
only  ask  that  it  be  placed  in  his  hands.  If  you  have  succeeded  in  effect- 
ing a  settlement  with  him  do  not  give  it  to  him.  If  you  think  there  is  a 
prospect  of  an  immediate  settlement  do  not  give  it  to  him  ;  but  if  such 
is  not  the  case, then  I  want  it  placed  in  his  hands.  Allow  him  to  either 
consent  or  to  make  a  reply.  If  he  consents  to  an  honorable  settle- 
ment, then  the  letter  will  never  see  the  light  of  day,  but  if  he  does  not 
so  act,  then  it  will  be  published  to  the  world,  and  from  the  time  he 
opens  up  the  ball  in  a  legal  way  we  will  continue  to  wage  the  battle 
with  him.  His  wealth  cannot  save  him  if  this  fight  is  begun.  Let  no 
one  know  of  the  existence  of  this  letter  until  after  five  o'clock  of  the 
day  you  deliver  it ;  then  if  he  makes  no  reply  let  it  go  to  the  world. 
Let  him  know  the  limit  of  time  allowed.  I  sincerely  hope  that  there 
will  be  no  necessity  for  its  publication.     Hoping  for  the  best,  I  remain, 

" '  Very  truly  yours, 

"  '  T.  V.  POWDEBLY.' 

"I  have  received  your  letter  to  me  dated  'Scranton,  Pa.,  April  11, 
1886,'  at  the  same  time  and  by  the  same  agency  that  I  received  your 
foregoing  letter  of  instructions  to  Mr.  McDowell.  The  animus  and 
purpose  of  your  letter  to  me  cannot  be  fully  understood  without  know- 
ing the  contents  of  that  one.  I  was  peremptorily  notified  at  the  same 
time  that  I  must  answer  your  letter  by  5  o'clock  to-day  and  I  was  graci- 


BUREAU   OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  97 

ously  given  until  that  hour  to  respond.  Your  letter  to  me  embraces 
two  subjects,  one  relating-  to  me  personally  and  the  other  to  the  rela- 
tion of  the  Knights  of  Labor  to  a  railroad  company  of  which  I  am  the 
president,  and  in  some  degree  the  representative  of  its  public  and 
private  duties.  I  shall  refer  to  the  first  subject  very  briefly.  The  cir- 
cumstances above  given,  under  which  your  letter  was  delivered,  as 
well  as  its  tenor  and  spirit,  place  the  purpose  in  writing  it  beyond  any 
fair  doubt.  It  would  seem  to  be  an  official  declaration  that  the  Knights 
of  Labor  had  determined  to  pursue  me  personally  unless  the  Missouri 
Pacific  Company  should  yield  to  its  demands  in  what  you  call  the  strike 
on  that  road. 

"  In  answer  to  these  personal  threats,  I  beg  to  say  that  I  am  yet  a 
free  American  citizen.  I  am  past  forty-nine  years  of  age,  was  born  at 
Pox  bury,  Delaware  county,  in  this  State.  I  began  life  in  a  lowly  way,  and 
by  industry,  temperance  and  attention  to  my  own  business  have  been 
successful,  perhaps  beyond  the  measure  of  my  deserts.  If,  as  you  say, 
I  am  now  to  be  destroyed  by  the  Knights  of  Labor  unless  I  will  sink  my 
manhood,  so  be  it.  Fortunately,  I  have  retained  my  early  habits  of  in- 
dustry. My  friends,  neighbors  and  business  associates  know  me  well, 
and  I  am  quite  content  to  leave  my  personal  record  in  their  hands.  If 
any  of  them  have  aught  to  complain  of,  I  will  be  only  too  glad  to  sub- 
mit to  any  arbitration.  If  such  parties  or  any  of  them  wish  to  appoint 
the  Knights  of  Labor  or  you  as  their  attorney,  such  appointment  is  quite 
agreeable  to  me,  but  until  such  an  election  is  made  it  will  naturally 
occur  to  you  that  any  interference  on  your  part  in  my  personal  affairs 
is,  to  say  the  least,  quite  gratuitous.  Since  I  was  nineteen  years  of  age 
I  have  been  in  the  habit  of  employing  in  my  various  enterprises  large 
numbers  of  persons,  probably  at  times  as  high  as  50,000,  distributing 
three  or  four  million  dollars  per  month  to  different  pay-rolls.  It  would 
seem  a  little  strange  that  during  all  these  years  the  difficulty  with  the 
Knights  of  Labor  should  be  my  first.  Any  attempt  to  connect  me  per- 
sonally with  the  late  strike  on  the  southwestern  roads,  or  any  respon- 
sibility therefor,  is  equally  gratuitous,  as  you  well  know.  It  is  true  I 
am  the  President  of  the  Missouri  Pacific,  but  when  this  strike  occurred 
I  was  far  away  on  the  ocean  and  beyond  the  reach  of  telegrams.  I 
went  away  relying  on  your  promise  made  to  me  last  August  that  there 
should  be  no  strike  on  that  road,  and  that  if  any  difficulties  should 
arise  you  would  come  frankly  to  me  with  them.  Mr.  Hopkins,  the 
Vice-President  of  this  company,  who  was  present  aird  cognizant  of  this 

l  s- — 7 


98  BUKEAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

arrangement  with  you,  in   my  absence  sent  you   promptly,  when  the- 
present  strike  broke  out,  the  following  telegrams: 

"  '  New  Yoek,  March  6,  1886. 

"  '  T.  V.  PowDEELT,  Scranton,  Pa. : 

"  'Mr.  Hoxie  telegraphs  that  Knights  of  Labor  on  our  road  have* 
struck  and  refuse  to  allow  any  freight  trains  to  run,  saying  they  have 
no  grievances,  but  are  only  striking  because  ordered  to  do  so.  If  there- 
is  any  grievance  we  would  like  to  talk  it  over  with  you.  We  under- 
stood you  to  promise  that  no  strike  would  be  ordered  without  consul- 
tation. 

"'A.  L.  HOPKINS.' 

"  '  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  March  8, 1886. 

"  'A.  L.  Hopkins,  Secretary  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad,  New  York: 

" '  Have  telegraphed  west  for  particulars.  Papers  say  strike  caused 
by  discharge  of  man  named  Hall.  Can  he  be  reinstated  pending  inves- 
tigation ? 

" '  t.  v.  po  wdbkly; 

"  '  New  York,  March  8, 1886. 

"  '  T.  Y.  POWDERLT  : 

"'Thanks  for  your  message  and  suggestion.  Hall  was  employed 
by  the  Texas  &  Pacific,  and  not  by  us.  That  property  is  in  the  hands 
of  the  United  States  court,  and  we  have  no  control  whatever  over  the 
receivers  or  over  employes.  We  have  carried  out  the  agreements 
made  last  spring  in  every  respect,  and  the  present  strike  is  unjust  to  us 
and  unwise  for  you.  It  is  reported  here  that  this  movement  is  the  re- 
sult of  Wall  street  influence  on  the  part  of  those  short  of  the  securi- 
ties likely  to  be  affected. 

"'A.  L.  HOPKINS.' 

"This  dispatch  you  never  answered.  This  correspondence  places 
the  continuance  of  this  strike  on  your  shoulders.  You  sat  still  and 
were  silent  after  Mr.  Hopkins'  appeal,  and  allowed  the  strike  to  go  on — 
allowed  the  company's  property  to  be  forcibly  seized  and  the  citizens 
of  four  States  and  one  territory  to  be  deprived  of  their  rightful  railway 
facilities.  Thus  forced  the  Board  of  Directors,  prior  to  my  return, 
placed  the  matter  in  Mr.  Hoxie's  hands  by  a  formal  resolution,  and  that 
disposition  of  it  has  never  been  changed.  You  knew  this  well,  because 
you  had  a  correspondence  with  him  on  this  subject.     Hence  it  was- 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  99 

that  when  Mr.  Turner,  Secretary  of  your  order,  wrote  to  me  on  the  sub- 
ject, I  fully  advised  him  in  my  letter  of  March  27,  that  the  matter  had 
been  placed  by  the  Board  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Hoxie,  and  that  I  must  re- 
fer you  to  him  as  its  continuing  representative.  At  the  same  time  I 
reminded  you  that  a  standing  advertisement  of  this  company  was  at 
that  moment  inviting  its  former  employes  to  return  to  their  accustomed 
posts,  and  that  regardless  of  their  being  or  not  being  members  of  your 
order,  and  regardless  also  of  their  individual  participation  in  the  strike 
which  your  order  has  recently  inaugurated.  When,  inspite  of  all  this, 
you  desired  to  see  me  personally,  I  cordially  met  you,  and  having  put 
myself  in  communication  with  Mr.  Hoxie,  arranged  with  him  for  you 
the  following,  which  was  widely  published  by  you  at  the  time  : 

" '  Xew  York,  March  30,  1886. 

"  '  Martin  Irons,  St.  Louis  : 

" '  Have  been  in  conference  all  day  with  the  result  that  Vice-Presi- 
dent Hoxie  agrees  to  the  following:  Willing  to  meet  a  committee  of 
our  employes  without  discrimination,  who  arc  actually  at  work  in  the 
service  of  the  company  at  the  time  such  committee  is  appointed,  to  adju- 
dicate with  them  any  grievances  that  they  may  have.  Have  your  Execu- 
tive Committee  order  the  men  to  return  to  work,  and  also  select  a 
special  committee  from  the  employes  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  to  wait  on 
Mr.  Hoxie  to  adjust  any  difference.  Do  this  as  quickly  as  possible. 
Board  will  leave  for  St.  Louis  to-morrow. 

" '  FREDERICK  TURNER, 

" '  Secretary.' 

"Ever  since  then  Mr.  Hoxie  has  stood  ready  to  receive  any  and  all 
persons  in  the  actual  employ  of  this  company  as  a  committee  or  other- 
wise, and  confer  upon  or  arbitrate  any  matter  of  difference  or  complaint, 
either  between  the  company  and  themselves  or  between  the  company 
and  its  late  employes,  and,  for  that  matter,  between  the  company  and 
anybody  else.  No  such  committee  or  individual  employe  has,  so  far  as 
known  to  me,  ever  made  any  such  application.  In  this  connection  it 
will  be  remembered  that  they  left  not  because  of  any  complaint  what- 
ever of  this  company's  treatment  of  themselves,  but  only  because  of 
this  company's  refusal  to  comply  with  their  demand  that  this  company 
refuse  to  do  what  the  law  requires  in  the  way  of  interchange  of  busi- 
ness with  another  company,  with  which  some  of  your  order  had  a 
quarrel. 

"  In  the  meantime  this  company  has  of  necessity  gone  on  to  extend 


100  BUREAU    OF   LABOll   STATISTICS. 

employment  to  such  of  those  persons  who  recently,  and  without  even 
alleged  provocation,  left  its  service,  as  saw  tit  to  return.  These  return- 
ing- employes  have  been  very  many,  and  in  this  way  its  rolls  are  already 
nearly  if  not  quite  as  full  as  its  shops  and  equipment,  crippled  by  acts 
of  violence  attendant  upon  recent  action  of  your  order  can  employ 
Mr.  Hoxie  advises  that  every  such  person  applying  to  be  received  back, 
has  been  employed,  unless  believed  to  have  taken  part  in  recent  acts 
of  violence.  This  company  still  stands  ready  to  make  good  in  the 
fullest  sense  its  agreement  as  expressly  set  forth. 

"  In  the  face  of  all  this  you  notify  me  that  unless  by  5  o'clock  I  per- 
sonally consent  to  something,  precisely  what,  I  do  not  see,  then  personal 
consequences  of  a  sort  vaguely  expressed,  but  not  hard  to  understand, 
will  at  the  hand  of  your  order  be  visited  upon  me.  Let  me  again  re- 
mind you  that  it  is  an  'American  citizen  whom  you  and  your  order  thus 
propose  to  destroy.  The  contest  is,  not  between  your  order  and  me, 
but  between  your  order  and  the  laws  of  the  land.  Your  order  has 
already  defied  those  laws  in  preventing,  by  violence,  this  company  from 
operating  its  road.  You  held  then  that  this  company  should  not  oper- 
ate its  road  under  conditions  prescribed  by  law,  but  only  under  condi- 
tions prescribed  by  you.  You  now  declare  in  effect  that  I  hold  my  in- 
dividual property  and  rights,  not  as  other  men  hold  theirs,  but  only  at 
the  peril  of  your  letting  loose  irrevocably  after  5  o'clock  your  order 
upon  me.  If  this  is  true  of  this  company  and  of  me,  it  is  true  of  all 
other  men  and  companies.  If  so,  you  and  your  secret  order  are  the 
law,  and  an  American  citizen  is  such  only  in  name. 

"Already  for  weeks  your  order,  in  your  attack  upon  this  company, 
has  not  hesitated  to  disable  it  by  violence  from  rendering  its  duty  to 
the  public,  and  from  giving  work  and  paying  wages  to  men  at  least  three 
times  your  own  number,  who,  working  as  they  were  by  your  side,  were 
at  least  deserving  of  your  sympathy.  Having  pushed  this  violence  be- 
yond even  the  greatest  forbearance  of  the  public,  and  found  in  this  di- 
rection cause  to  hesitate,  you  now  turn  upon  me  and  propose  that  the 
wrongs  you  have  hitherto  inflicted  on  the  public  shall  now  culminate 
in  an  attack  upon  an  individual. 

"  In  tbis,  as  I  have  said,  the  real  issue  is  between  you  and  the  law 
of  the  land.  It  may  be,  before  you  are  through,  those  laws  will  effi- 
ciently advise  you  that  even  I,  as  an  individual  citizen,  am  not  beyond 
their  care. 

•     "  Very  respectfully, 

"JAY  GOULD." 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  101 

After  the  publication  of  the  foregoing  correspondence  the  follow- 
ing communication  by  the  General  Master  Workman  appeared  in  the 

newspapers : 

• 

"  Scranton,  Pa.,  April  14,  1886. 
" Frederick  Turner,  Secretary  Executive  Board,  Knights  of  Labor: 

"A  spirited  circular  should  go  out  at  once  to  the  order,  asking  the 
members  to  turn  every  dollar  they  can  raise  into  the  hands  of  the  men 
in  support  of  their  fight  against  the  Gould  System.  No  matter  whether 
they  acted  wisely  or  not,  they  should  now  have  the  sympathy  of  the 
order,  and  that  which  is  more  substantial  than  sympathy  —  dollars.  If 
you  think  as  I  do,  telegraph  the  members  of  the  board  at  St.  Louis, 
and  have  them  select  the  proper  party  to  take  charge  of  the  funds. 
Then  let  me  know,  and  I  will  draw  up  a  circular.  There  is  no  use  in 
ordering  any  more  men  out  on  a  strike  along  these  roads.  Let  us  back 
up  the  men  now  out  with  the  money  they  so  much  need  to  provide 
themselves  and  families  with  necessary  supplies.  This  seems  to  me  to 
be  the  need  of  the  hour. 

"  [Signed]  "  T.  V.  PO  WDERLY." 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  lurid  exhortation  of  Messrs.  Irons, 
Caughlan  and  McKeon,  had  any  effect  upon  the  strike,  unless  it  may 
have  been  in  the  death  of  a  few  unfortunate  people  in  East  St.  Louis  a 
few  days  later. 

In  East  St.  Louis,  on  the  7th  of  April,  large  bodies  of  rioters,  com- 
posed not  only  of  strikers,  but  also  of  the  hoodlum  element  which  had 
never  been  in  the  employment  of  the  railroads,  to  the  number  of  about 
300  persons,  formed  in  procession  and  marched  to  the  various  yards 
and  freight-houses,  demanding  that  the  laborers  cease  their  work  and 
attempted  to  take  forcible  possession,  but  they  were  generally  con- 
fronted by.  deputy  sheriffs,  armed  with  rifles  and  revolvers,  and  turned 
back.  The  sheriff  the  next  day  increased  his  force  of  deputies  by  130, 
the  men  being  from  Belleville  and  vicinity.  These  men  and  others  had 
volunteered  —  many  of  them  —  in  response  to  the  following  notice 
posted  in  the  adjacent  towns  : 

"Wanted. — Good  men  to  act  as  deputy  marshals,  and  to  protect 
the  property  of  this  (the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad)  at  East  St. 
Louis.  Five  dollars  a  day  paid  and  board  furnished.  None  but  men 
of  grit  need  apply." 

We  now  approach  the  terrible  tragedy  of  April  9th,  at  East  St. 
Louis,  the  bloody  culmination  of  riots  and  the  strike. 


102  BUREAU   OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

Tlie  Broadway  crossing  and  the  Dike  avenue  bridge  in  East  St. 
Louis  was  and  had  been  a  favorite  resort  for  the  strikers,  and  here  they 
were  on  this  fatal  day  assembled  in  large  numbers.  At  the  east  end  of 
the  bridge  spanning  Cahokia  creek,  Broadway  is  crossed  by  the  Louis- 
ville &  Nashville,  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  and  the  Cairo  Short  Line 
railroads.  The  crossing  is  about  fifty  yards  wide.  About  twenty  yards 
south  of  the  crossing  the  two  former  roads  turn  to  the  west  and  cross 
the  creek  on  a  high  trestle,  which  is  about  eighty  feet  only  from  tbe 
Bike  avenue  bridge,  and  from  it  is  obtained  a  full  view  of  the  bridge, 
the  crossing  and  the  intervening  ground.  Here  every  movement  in 
the  yards  could  be  noted  and  all  arriving  and  departing  trains  ob- 
served. It  is  impossible  to  arrive  at  the  exact  facts  of  the  tragedy,  be- 
cause no  two  narratives  agree  in  essential  particulars,  whether  these 
detailed  reports  come  from  newspaper  reporters  and  eye  witnesses  or 
from  the  fighting  deputies.  A  close  comparison  of  contemporaneous 
reports  and  a  prudent  elimination  of  much  apparent  exaggeration  in  the  . 
statements,  public  and  private,  of  those  who  were  present,  and  which 
were  evidently  colored  by  their  respective  sympathies  and  heated  im- 
magmations,  gives  about  this  result :  The  Louisville  &  Nashville  road 
had  determined  to  run  its  trains  at  all  hazards,  and  for  that  purpose 
had  at  its  service  a  considerable  force  of  deputy  sheriffs  and  marshals. 
At  10  o'clock  A.  M.  the  first  effort  was  made  by  a  coal  train.  When  the 
train  reached  the  crossing  where  the  alert  strikers  and  the  usual  num- 
ber of  idlers  and  sightseers  had  congregated,  the  engineer  and  fireman 
were  stoned,  the  train  stopped  and  forced  back  to  its  starting  point. 
A  second  effort  resulted  in  no  better  success.  In  the  afternoon  the 
Company  resolved  to  send  a  posse  of  deputies  to  clear  the  crossing. 
^FbTthis  purpose  nine  men,  armed  with  rifles  and  revolvers,  were  se- 
lected; their  names  were:  J.  G.  Hewlett,  the  leader,  a  special  detec- 
tive of  the  road ;  William  Lester,  a  switchman ;  John  Hague,  an  En- 
glishman ;  Charles  Kinsler,  a  fireman ;  W.  P.  Laird,  a  bill  poster ; 
George  Burnett,  a  switchman;  John  T.  Williams,  a  farmer;  Samuel 
Jones,  a  school  teacher,  and  Stewart  Martin,  a  liveryman. 

When  the  posse  approached  the  trestle  over  the  creek  it  was 
greeted  by  jeers,  yells,  hooting  and  profane  and  approbrious  epithets. 
Hewlett  commanded  the  mob  to  disperse  and  attempted  to  arrest  a 
man  who  was  in  the  act  of  throwing  a  stone.  The  squad  of  deputies 
were  then  furiously  assailed  with  stones  from  both  sides  of  the  cross- 
ing, several  of  them  being  struck.  One  of  the  men,  it  cannot  be  ascer- 
tained certainly  which  one,  raised  his  rifle  and  fired,  and  a  man  was 
seen  to  fall.     Tbe  showers  of  stone  and  pistol  shots  from  all  directions 


BUREAU    OF  LABOR   STATISTICS.  103 


began  to  rain  upon  the  officers,  who  simultaneously  returned  the  fire, 
with  deadly  effect,  into  the  promiscuous  crowd.  The  firing  was  kept 
up  until  the  crossing- was  cleared,  the  people  fleeing,  panic  stricken,  and 
rushing  into  houses  for  safety.  The  deputies  retreated  westward  on 
the  track  of  the  Louisville  &  Nashville  road  to  the  freight  house,  and 
after  a  brief  parley  started  on  their  retreat  to  St.  Louis.  Proceeding 
up  the  bridge  approach,  they  were  met  by  Mayor  Joyce,  City  Clerk 
Canty  and  two  policemen,  who  attempted  to  place  them  under  arrest. 
They  protested  and  continued  their  flight  over  the  bridge,  being  fol- 
lowed by  the  officers  and  a  constantly  increasing  crowd  of  excited  men. 
The  mayor  and  other  parties  grabbed  several  of  the  deputies  and  at- 
tempted to  drag  them  back  by  force,  and  then  the  firing  again  began  and 
one  man  in  the  ranks  of  the  pursuing  party  fell.  This  checked  the 
■crowd  and  the  deputies  were  enabled  to  make  their  escape  to  St.  Louis, 
where  they  surrendered  themselves  to  the  authorities. 

The  scene  at  East  St.  Louis  after  the  fight  was  harrowing.  Th*e 
victims  of  the  affray  who  were  killed  were  Oscar  Washington,  John 
Boner,  Patrick  Driscoll,  Eichard  Eyckman,  Mrs.  L.  Pfeuffer,  and  on 
the  bridge  C.  E.  Thompson.  A  man  named  Jones  was  seriously,  and 
others,  whose  names  were  not  reported,  more  or  less  wounded.  But 
the  end  had  not  come  yet.  Bloodshed  was  succeeded  by  incendiarism. 
At  an  early  hour  in  the  night  of  this  memorable  day  a  car  loaded  with 
baled  hay  on  the  Louisville  &  Nashville  road  was  discovered  to  be  on 
fire.  An  alarm  was  sent  to  the  fire  department  of  St.  Louis,  which 
quickly  responded  and  soon  subdued  the  fire,  but  another  fire  was  at 
once  discovered  on  the  Cairo  Short  Line,  where  four  cars  were  burned. 
Next  on  the  same  road  a  passenger  coach,  five  box  cars  and  an  oil  and 
machine  house  were  consumed,  as  was  also  a  scale  house.  At  1:30 
o'clock  A.  M.  two  loaded  cars  and  one  empty  one  on  the  Pittsburg  track, 
and  two  cars  on  the  Vicksburg  track  of  the  same  road,  were  consumed. 
Still  a  sixth  fire  occurred  among  a  long  string  of  box  cars  on  one  of 
the  sidings  of  the  main  track  of  the  Cairo  Short  Line,  and  fifteen  cars 
were  destroyed. 

While  these  conflagrations  were  going  on  the  populace  of  East 
St.  Louis,  excepting  the  police  force,  was  not  only  passive  but  in  vari- 
ous ways,  as  by  cutting  hose,  etc.,  prevented  the  St.  Louis  fire  depart- 
ment from  rendering  efficient  aid  in  preventing  the  destruction  of  prop- 
erty. The  six  fires  resulted  in  the  loss  of  property  amounting  in  all  to 
about  £75,000. 

Upon  the  request  of  Sheriff  Robiequet  and  other  officials  Gov- 
ernor Oglesby  immediately  ordered  the  State  militia  to  East  St.  Louis. 


104  BUREAU    OF    LABOR    STATISTICS. 

They  arrived  on  the  night  of  April  9,  and  relieving-  many  of  the  depu- 
ties, assumed  control  of  affairs.  At  tirst  eight  companies  arrived, 
which  were  soon  reinforced  by  several  more  companies,  including  a 
Gattling  gun  company,  and  order  was  soon  restored. 

The  subsequent  history  of  this  tragic  affair  is  briefly  told.  The 
coroner's  inquest  developed  no  new  facts  outside  of  those  heretofore 
summarized.  The  deputies  were  held  in  durance  for  a  few  weeks,  then 
sent  to  East  St.  Louis  in  obedience  to  a  requisition,  and  were  finally 
released  and  disappeared  from  sight. 

It  is  not  the  province  of  this  chronicle  to  say  who  was  at  fault. 
Perhaps  if  inflammatory  appeals  had  not  been  made  to  the  more  vio- 
lent passions,  the  guilty  would  have  not  been  prone  to  violence  and 
the  innocent  would  not  have  suffered. 

In  Missouri  matters  were  progressing  more  peaceably,  and  to  a 
message  concerning  the  East  St.  Louis  affair  from  J.  L.  Blair,  Yice- 
President  of  the  St.  Lotus  police  board,  Gov.  Marmaduke  responded 
the  same  night : 

"James  L.  Blair,  Vice-President  Board  of  Police: 

"  I  have  just  learned  of  excitement  in  St.  Louis  growing  out  of 
troubles  in  East  St.  Louis.  I  have  labored  to  settle  these  differences 
in  our  State  through  civil  authorities,  instead  of  military  force,  and  am 
steadily  achieving  success  in  that  way,  fullj  justifying  my  proclamation, 
which  says :  The  courage,  good  sense  and  law-abiding  spirit  of  the 
people  can  be  firmly  relied  upon  to  carry  out  such  peaceful  settlement. 
I  still  hope  to  reach  a  prompt  solution  of  this  question  without  resort 
to  the  bullet  and  bayonet,  and  think,  if  serious  trouble  is  anticipated  in 
your  city,  it  would  be  wise  for  Mayor  Francis  to  issue  at  once  a  procla- 
mation saying  such  are  his  views  also  and  calling  upon  the  people  to 
crush  out  all  lawlessness,  and  I  believe  that  the  great  mass  of  the 
people,  rich  and  poor,  will  rally  to  the  support  of  this  sentiment  and 
purpose. 

"JOHX  S.  MARMADUKE." 

'•Jefferson  City,  April  9,  1886." 

The  succeeding  days  were  passed  without  particular  incident.  The 
Illinois  militia,  TOO  strong,  held  East  St.  Louis,  protected  property  and 
re-opened  suspended  commerce.  In  St.  Louis,  as  well  as  over  the 
whole  Southwest  System,  commerce  had  already  been  fully  resumed; 
yet  some  of  the  citizens  of  St.  Louis,  appealed  to  by  the  Knights  of 
Labor,  in  view  of  the  constant  recurrence  of  crime,  outlawry  and  an- 
archy and  the  depression  of  business  affecting  all  alike,  after  a  series* 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  105 

meetings  and  the  appointment  of  committees,  determined  to  intercede 
between  the  contending  factions.  The  result  of  their  deliberations  is 
best  told  in  the  following  correspondence  : 

"  St.  Louis,  April  14,  1886. 
"  H.  M.  Hoxie,  Esq.,  First  Vice-President  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Rail- 
road and  Leased  Lines: 

"  Sir— At  a  mass  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  St.  Louis,  on  the  13th 
instant,  the  enclosed  preamble  and  resolution  were  adopted,  and  we 
respectfully  request  you,  in  conformity  therewith,  to  appoint,  or  cause 
the  proper  authority  to  appoint,  a  committee  of  three  resident  directors 
of  the  Southwestern  Railroad  System,  and  cause  the  names  of  the  same 
to  be  immediately  reported  to  Dr.  Thos.  O'Reilly,  president  of  said 
meeting. 

"Very  respectfully, 

"  DR.  THOS.  O'REILLY, 
"Thomas  Marvin,  "  President. 

"  Secretary." 

"The  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company, 
Executive  Department, 

St.  Louis,  April  16,  1886. 

"Dr.  Thomas  O'Reilly,  Chairman,  etc.,  St.  Louis: 

"  Dear  Sir — I  am  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  15th  instant,  en- 
closing copy  of  preamble  and  resolution  adopted  at  a  citizens'  meeting 
held  at  the  court  house  in  this  city  on  the  13th  instant,  and  requesting 
me  'to  appoint,  or  cause  the  proper  authority  to  appoint,  a  committee 
of  three  of  the  resident  directors  of  the  Southwestern  Railroad  System, 
in  conformity  with  said  resolution,  and  cause  the  names  of  the  same  to 
be  immediately  reported  to  Dr.  Thomas  O'Reilly,  president  of  said 
meeting.' 

"The  substance  of  this  resolution  seems  to  be  the  appointment  of 
'a  committee  of  nine  citizens  of  St.  Louis,  three  from  the  resident  di- 
rectors of  the  railways  in  interest,  three  from  the  resident  labor  inter- 
ests, present  or  recent  employes  of  the  railways,  to  be  selected  by  the 
unemployed,  and  three  discreet  and  recognized  representatives  of  the 
mercantile,  manufacturing  and  professional  elements  of  the  city,  in  no 
wise  connected  or  interested  with  the  railway  or  labor  organizations,, 
who  shall  be  authorized  by  their  respective  interests  to  meet,  confer 
and  arrange  with  binding  effect  the  existing  troubles.' 

"The  premise  upon  which  the  proposition  for  the  appointment  of 
such  a  committee  rests  is  the  statement  in  the  preamble  to  the  resolu- 


106  BUREAU    OF  LABOR   STATISTICS. 

tion,  that,  'The  trade  and  commerce  of  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  and  the 
inter-State  commerce  through  St.  Louis  to  and  from  all  of  the  trade  points 
of  the  Missouri  Pacific  and  of  the  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  &  Southern 
Railways,  has  been  for  over  a  month,  and  still  is,  obstructed,  with  no  im- 
mediate sign  of  said  roads  complying  with,  or  being  able  to  comply 
with,  their  duty  to  the  public  as  common  carriers.' 

"I  must  respectfully  call  your  attention,  and  through  you  the  at- 
tention of  the  citizens  participating  in  the  meeting  of  the  13th  instant, 
of  which  you  were  chairman,  to  the  fact  that  the  railways  constituting 
the  Southwestern  System  are  now  in  full  operation,  and  were,  in  fact, 
at  the  time  the  resolution  was  presented  by  the  managers  of  that  meet- 
ing for  the  approval  of  the  citizens  there  present.  This  fact  can  be  at- 
tested by  any  one  desiring  to  travel  or  forward  freight,  express  matter 
or  mail  over  these  railways.  So  far,  then,  as  either  the  public  or  this 
company  are  concerned,  the  need  of  resumption  of  traffic  can  not  be 
urged  as  a  reason  for  the  appointment  of  the  committee  suggested.  The 
action  of  such  a  committee  would  necessarily  relate  entirely  to  the 
methods  by  which  the  ex-employes  might  be  restored  to  the  places 
they  have  voluntarily  abandoned. 

"  After  the  serious  interruption  which  the  business  of  St.  Louis  has 
already  suffered,  and  at  a  time  when,  through  the  protection  of  the 
civil  authorities  and  through  extraordinary  exertions  in  procuring  suit- 
able labor,  this  company  has  re-opened  its  lines  and  fully  established 
its  traffic,  it  is  to  me  a  matter  of  sincere  regret  that  any  portion  of  its 
citizens  should  send  broadcast  over  the  land,  to  the  detriment  of  the 
city,  a  statement  in  regard  to  the  obstruction  of  traffic  over  two  of  its 
principal  roads,  which  I  am  satisfied  the  great  body  of  the  businessmen 
of  this  city  would  decline  to  indorse.  Whatever  may  have  been  the 
difficulties  for  solution  last  month  in  relation  to  the  resumption  of 
traffic,  they  do  not  exist  to-day.  The  railway  companies,  as  one  party, 
are  expending  their  time,  energies  and  money  to  keep  open  the  avenues 
of  commerce  for  the  public  benefit,  are  succeeding  in  so  doing,  and  are 
solvent  citizens,  amenable  as  such  through  the  courts  to  the  State  and 
to  individuals.  Another  party  to  be  affected  by  the  proposed  confer- 
ence is  avowedly  expending  its  time,  energy  and  money  for  the  purpose 
of  blockading  the  avenues  of  commerce,  and  is  not  a  legally  constituted 
solvent  citizen  and  can  not  be  so  reached. 

"In  conclusion,  I  desire  to  call  your  attention  to  the  reply  of  the 
president  of  this  company  to  the  communication  of  Mr.  Powderly,  pub- 
lished since  the  date  of  your  meeting,  which  fully  sets  forth  the  position 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  107 


of  this   company,  and   which   no  words  of  mine  could  render  more 
explicit. 

"  Very  respectfully, 
[Signed]  "  H.  M.  IIOXIE, 

"  Vice-President." 

The  subjoined  correspondence  in  reference  to  the  same  matter  ex- 
plains itself: 

"  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  April  28, 1886. 
M  Mr.  John  W.  Hayes,  Executive  Board  Noble   Order  of  the  Knights 

of  Labor: 

"  Sir — The  Committee  of  Arrangements  upon  the  part  of  the  citi- 
zens of  St.  Louis,  and  in  behalf  of  the  local  and  inter-State  commerce, 
have  continued  the  effort  to  secure  an  amicable  understanding  and 
ending  of  the  disturbance  and  wide-spread  suffering  resulting  from  the 
inability  of  the  railways  of  The  Missouri  Pacific  and  St.  Louis,  Iron 
Mountain  &  Southern  Companies  for  several  weeks  past,  and  now,  to 
fully  meet  the  demands  of  the  public,  and  to  execute  their  duty  to  the 
public  as  common  carriers,  we  have  taken  the  matter  up  where  the 
citizens'  committee  left  off,  after  failing  to  secure  from  the  railways 
the  appointment  of  their  share  of  the  proper  arbitration  committee. 
We  find  in  the  files  of  the  correspondence  this  letter  : 

"  '  Noble  Order  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  of 
America,  Office  of  the  Executive  Board. 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  April  15,  1886. 

"'Thomas  Morris,  Esq.,  Secretary  of  Citizens'  Meeting: 

" '  Dear  Sir — Yours  with  preamble  and  resolutions  received.  In 
reply  will  say  we  will  comply  with  the  sentiment  therein  expressed,  ap- 
point a  committee  of  three  and  agree  to  abide  by  any  decision  that  may 
be  reached. 

" '  Very  truly  yours, 

'"JOHN  W.HAYES, 
"  '  General  Executive  Board,  Knights  of  Labor. >  " 

"  We  must  say  that  this  letter  gave  our  committee  much  encour- 
agement. It  showed  no  fear  of  the  full  and  complete  presentation  of 
the  facts,  and  of  the  merits  and  demerits  of  the  whole  question  at 
issue,  were  they  many,  few,  or  but  one.  The  letter  was,  too,  in  accord 
with  the  spirit  manifested  in  the  interview  of  Grand  Master  Workman 
Powderly   with  President  Gould,  and  also  in  accord  with  the  same 


108  BUREAU  OF  LABOR  STATISTICS. 

spirit  of  conciliation  and  purpose  to  do  right  of  the  Grand  Master 
Workman's  order  directing'  the  strike  off. 

"  With  the  continued  purpose  of  the  origin  and  the  intent  of  the 
citizens'  organization  and  meeting,  we  shall  continue  our  efforts  in  be- 
half of  the  public  interests  and  push  our  work  to  the  end  that  an  ami- 
cable adjustment  may  be  secured,  and  to  the  further  end  that  further 
troubles  may  be  avoided.  We  seek  no  surrender  of  any  principle  or 
right  hitherto  or  now  maintained.  We  do,  however,  seek,  as  mediators 
in  behalf  of  the  long-suffering  public  from  those  who  have  heretofore 
responded  to  our  call,  the  Knights  of  Labor  as  above  shown,  that  they 
in  the  spirit  hitherto  manifested  to  this  committee  of  the  citizens'  mass 
meeting,  go  one  step  further — and  this  in  view  of  the  arrival  to-mor- 
row of  the  Curtin  Committee,  which  can  secure,  through  the  power  of 
Congress  and  its  official  investigation,  for  which  latter  the  Curtin 
Committee  visit  St.  Louis,  the  full  and  complete  statement  of  facts, 
that  both  Congress  and  the  public  can  judge  of  and  act  intelligently 
upon  the  same.  Therefore,  with  no  purpose  to  abate  our  work,  and 
that  the  public  may  have  the  continued  evidence  and  proof  of  the  fair- 
ness and  disposition  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  to  relieve  the  public  in- 
convenience and  to  rely  upon  the  facts  and  future  work  and  legislation,. 
we  do  submit  to  you,  and  at  the  same  time  respectfully  ask  you  to 
consider  the  propriety  of  an  immediate  executive  order  to  declare  the 
strike  at  an  end,  and  direct  or  request  that  Knights  do  return  to  their 
work  as  though  no  strike  had  occurred,  and  this  for  the  public  interest 
and  to  relieve  as  well  the  individual  embarrassment  resulting  there- 
from to  innocent  sufferers  of  all  classes. 

"  Very  respectfully, 

"  THOMAS  O'REILLY, 

"  Chairman. 

"  Thomas  Morris, 

"  Secretary." 

On  April  13,  what  is  known  as  the  Curtin  Congressional  Resolution, 
was  adopted  by  the  lower  house  of  Congress : 

"  Whereas,  A  disturbed  condition  in  the  relations  between  labor 
and  certain  railroad  corporations  carrying  on  inter-State  commerce,  is 
reported  to  exist  in  several  of  the  States,menacing  and  obstructing  inter- 
State  transportation  of  freight  and  passengers  ;  involving  to  a  greater 
or  less  extent  the  commerce  and  business  of  the  country  and  the  gen- 
eral welfare  of  the  people,  and  hence,  becoming  a  matter  of  national 
concern  ;  therefore,  be  it 


BUREAU  OF  LABOR  STATISTICS.  109 

"Resolved,  That  a  select  committee,  to  consist  of  seven  members, 
be  appointed  by  the  Speaker  to  investigate  the  cause  and  extent  of 
the  disturbed  conditions  now  existing  between  railroad  corporations 
engaged  in  carrying  on  inter-State  commerce,  and  their  employes,  in  the 
States  of  Illinois,  Missouri,  Kansas,  Arkansas  and  Texas.  Such  com- 
mittee shall  have  power  to  send  for  persons  and  papers,  to  examine 
witnesses  under  oath,  to  sit  during  the  session  of  the  house,  and  may 
visit  or  send  sub-committees  to  such  points,  in  such  States  as  may  be 
necessary,  in  order  to  facilitate  such  investigation.  It  shall  report  to 
the  House  during  the  pending  session,  with  such  recommendations  as 
it  shall  deem  proper  to  make ;  and  the  expense  incurred,  not  to  exceed 
the  sum  of  $3,000,  shall  be  paid  "out  of  the  contingent  fund  of  the 
House  upon  vouchers  certified  by  the  chairman  and  one  member  of  the 
committee." 

Under  this  resolution  the  following  committee  was  appointed : 
Hons.  A.  G.  Curtin,  Pennsylvania  ;  W.  H.  Crain,  Texas  ;  J.  H.  Outh- 
waite,  Ohio  ;  James  Buchanan,  New  Jersey ;  J.  W.  Stewart,  Vermont  ; 
A.  X.  Parker,  New  York  ;  and  James  N.  Burnes,  Missouri. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  this  committee  visited  St.  Louis  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  discharge  of  its  duties.  Its  appearance  appeared  to 
have  a  most  favorable  effect  upon  all  classes,  and  this  gained  strength 
when  on  May  1,  the  following  correspondence  was  begun  : 

"  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  May  1,  1886. 
"  To  the  Central  Executive  Board  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  of  America: 
"  The  testimony  taken  to-day  by  the  Congressional  Investigating 
Committee  shows  conclusively  that  very  serious  losses  to  the  commer- 
cial, agricultural  and  other  interests  of  the  entire  country  have  resulted 
from  the  labor  trouble  upon  the  lines  of  railroads  belonging  to  the 
Southwestern  System  and  other  railroads  in  the  States  of  Illinois, 
Missouri,  Kansas,  Arkansas  and  Texas,  and  that  by  reason  of  said 
troubles  a  large  number  of  persons  not  directly  connected  therewith 
have  been  thrown  out  of  employment:  Unwilling  at  this  time  to  ex- 
press any  opinion  in  regard  to  the  cause  which  produced  this  lamenta- 
ble condition  of  affairs,  or  to  indicate  where  the  blame  lies  for  its  con- 
tinuance, and  animated  solely  by  a  desire  to  render  all  the  assistance  in 
our  power  in  the  endeavor  to  restore  peace,  individual  happiness  and 
commercial  prosperity  to  the  citizens  of  the  country,  and  particularly 
of  the  five  States  above  named,  we  do  hereby  respectfully  but  earn- 
estly request  you,  as  American  citizens  having  the  welfare  of  our 
common  country  at  heart,  to  advise,  through  the  proper  official  chan- 


110  BUREAU  OF  LABOR  STATISSICS. 


nels,  a  discontinuance  of  the  strike  upon  the  railways  hereinbefore 
mentioned,  and  to  leave  the  question  whether  the  employes  or  the 
officers  of  the  corporation  were  justifiable,  to  the  decision  that  public- 
opinion  may  form  when  the  Congressional  Committee,  which  has  the 
matter  under  investigation,  shall  have  completed  its  work.  Feeling- 
assured  that  a  compliance  with  the  request  will  merit  for  your  boards 
and  for  those  who  may  act  in  conformity  with  your  counsel  the  appro- 
bation of  the  people  of  the  United  States,  we  remain, 

Your  obedient  servants, 
[Signed]  .    "  A.  G.  CURTIN, 

"  W.  H.  CRAIN, 
•       "JAS.  H.  OUTHWAITE, 
"  A.  X.  PARKER, 
"  JAMES  BUCHANAN, 
"J.  W.STEWART." 

Hurst's  Hotel,  St.  Louis,  May  3,  1886. 
To  Hon.  A.  G.  Curtin,    W.  H.  Crane,  James  H.  Outliwaite,  A.  X.  Par- 
ker, James  Buchanan  and  J.  W.  Stewart: 

Gentleman — Your  communicntion  of  May  1st  was  placed  before 
the  joint  executive  boards,  and  the  following  resolution  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  the  request  embodied  in  the  communication  from 
the  Congressional  Committee  be  granted — the  time  for  calling  the  strike 
off  to  be  left  to  the  General  Executive  Board.  In  view  of  the  fact  that 
the  business  interests  of  the  country  are  suffering,  and  the  Knights  of 
Labor  having  the  interests  of  the  whole  people  at  heart,  we  willingly 
comply  with  the  request  of  the  Nation's  representatives,  and  that  of 
the  citizens'  committee  of  St.  Louis,  and  declare  this  strike  at  an  end ; 
to  take  effect  Tuesday  morning,  May  4. 

Trusting  this  action  will  meet  with  the  approval  of  the  public,  and 
assist  in  bringing  capital  and  labor  in  closer  relationship,  we  remain, 
Truly  yours, 
The  General  Executive  Board  of  the  Knights  of  Labor. 
[Signed]  JOHN  W.  HAYES. 

St.  Louis,  May  3,  1886. 

"Thos.   O'Reilly,    Chairman,   Thos.    Morris,    Secretary,    Citizens' 
Meeting: 

"  Gentlemen  :  Your  communication  of  April  28  was  placed  before 
the  Joint  Executive  Boards  with  the  following  result : 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS.  Ill 

"That  we  accept  your  proposition  and  leave  the  matter  in  the  hands 
of  the  General  Executive  Board  to  fix  the  date  for  compliance  with  the 
same. 

"  The  citizens  whom  you  have  the  honor  to  represent  deserve  the 
appreciation  of  the  whole  community  for  the  efforts  made  to  amicably 
adjust  and  settle  the  difficulty  existing  upon  the  Southwest  system  of 
railroads  in  behalf  of  local  and  inter-State  commerce,  and  for  the  restora- 
tion of  peace  and  harmony  between  labor  and  capital.  We  have 
selected  Tuesday  morning,  May  4,  1886,  as  the  time  when  this  strike 
shall  be  declared  at  an  end. 

Very  truly  yours, 

JOHN  W.  HAYES, 
"  General  Executive  Board,  Knights  of  Labor." 

"  Office  of  the  Executive  Board, 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  May  3,  1886. 

"  To  the  members  of  D.  A.  17,  93  and  101  and  of  the  General  Assembly 
and  non-members,  or  persons  affected  by  the  present  strike  upon  the 
Gould  Southwest  System  of  Railways — Greeting: 

"On  April  28th  the  citizens  of  St.  Louis  requested  of  this  board 
that  in  the  interest  of  the  business  community  of  St.  Louis  and  that  of 
the  United  States  in  general,  the  strike  upon  the  Gould  Southwest 
system  of  railways  be  declared  at  an  end.  While  this  request  was 
under  consideration  (May  1st)  by  the  joint  boards  of  D.  A.  17,  93  and 
101,  the  committee  appointed  by  Congress  to  investigate  the  cause  of 
the  trouble  between  the  railroad  company  and  its  employes  made  a 
similar  request,  in  which  they  say : 

"  The  testimony  taken  by  the  Congressional  Investigating  Commit- 
tee shows  conclusively  that  very  serious  losses  to  the  commercial  inter- 
ests of  the  entire  country  have  resulted  from  these  troubles,  and  that  a 
large  number  of  persons  not  connected  therewith  have  been  thrown 
out  of  employment.  Therefore  we  do  respectfully  but  earnestly  ask 
you  to  discontinue  this  strike  and  leave  the  justice  of  your  cause  to  the 
decision  that  public  opinion  may  foim  when  we  make  our  report." 

"  The  documents  were  fully  considered  and  the  following  conclusion 
arrived  at:  That  the  matter  be  left  in  the  hands  of  the  General  Execu- 
tive Board,  they  to  set  a  time  and  declare  the  strike  at  an  end.  We 
have  therefore  selected  Tuesday  Morning,  May  4,  1886,  as  the  time 
when  this  strike  shall  end.     You  will  make  application  to  your  former 


112  BUREAU    OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

employers  for  re-employinent  on  the  above  date  (Tuesday  morning,  May 
4th). 

"  By  order  of  the  General  Executive  Board, 

"JOHN  W.  HAYES/' 

The  following  letter  of  instructions  was  thereupon  issued  by  the 
First  Yice-President-of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway  Company: 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  May  4,  1886. 

"Wm.  Kerrigan,  Esq.,  General  Superintendent: 

"  Dear  Sir — The  morning  papers  of  to-day  contain  an  order  from 
the  General  Executive  Board  of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  unconditionally 
terminating  the  strike  which  has  existed  on  the  part  of  certain  of  our 
former  employes  since  March  6  last,  to  take  effect  this  date.  In  engag- 
ing the  men  we  need  in  the  service  of  the  company  you  will  be  governed 
by  the  following  conditions  contained  in  our  offers  of  employment 
which  have  heretofore  been  made  and  repeated  from  time  to  time: 

"  From  the  advertisement  of  March  10,  1886 : 

'  Good  and  competent  men  will  be  employed  without  reference  to 
their  past  or  present  relations  to  the  company,  or  their  connection  with 
any  society  or  organization,  open,  secret,  secular  or  otherwise.  Such 
as  are  accepted  will  be  paid  the  rate  of  wages  recommended  by  the 
Governors  and  other  State  officials  of  Missouri  and  Kansas,  when  the 
labor  troubles  of  March,  1885,  were  adjusted,  the  same  as  have  been 
paid  by  the  company  since  that  date.' 

"Also  the  following,  contained  in  the  letter  to  the  Governors  of 
Missouri  and  Kansas,  in  reply  to  their  communication  of  March  20,  in 
which  the  above  advertisement  was  repeated  with  the  following  addi- 
tions : 

'  This  company  is  further  willing  to  pay  to  its  employes  a  rate  of 
wages  equal  to  that  now  being  paid  by  other  railroad  companies  in  the 
same  section  of  country. 

'  The  men  who  have  been  engaged  under  the  advertisement  of 
March  10,  1886,  will  be  continued  in  our  empoly ;  we  can  not  re-engage 
or  continue  in  our  employ  any  persons  who  have  actually  engaged  in 
the  destruction  or  injury  of  the  company's  property,  or  who  have  ad- 
vised such  destruction  or  injury.' 

"In  the  interview  with  Messrs.  Turner  and  Bailey  on  April  1,  1886, 
I  stated  that  this  company  desired  to  re-engage  in  its  service  such  of 
its  late  employes  as  it  needed  who  might  apply  individually  for  employ- 
ment and  were  not  objectionable  to  the  management  by  reason  of  their 


BUREAU    OF   LABOR    STATISTICS.  113 


acts  during  the  late  strike.  While  this  offer  was  not  accepted,  but,  on 
the  contrary,  an  order  for  the  further  continuance  of  the  strike  was 
afterwards  issued,  the  position  of  the  company  in  this  matter  remains 
unchanged,  although  its  requirements  for  additional  men  have  since 
been  greatly  diminished. 

"I  learn  from  your  reports  that  about  600  of  the  employes  who 
struck  (tii  March  0th  have  resumed  their  places  .since  the  hrst  order  to 
resume  work  was  issued  by  the  General  Master  Workman  of  the 
Knights  of  Labor  on  March  28,  1886,  and  that  many  new  men  have  been 
employed  under  the  advertisement  for  help  above  referred  to,  so  that 
the  present  force  is  nearly  adequate  for  the  needs  of  the  company,  and 
entirely  sufficient  for  the  present  requirements  in  the  shops  at  Atchison, 
Kansas  City,  Parsons,  Sedalia  and  Palestine.  I  also  note  your  recom- 
mendation that  the  shops  at  DeSoto  remain  closed  for  the  present. 

"In  complying  with  the  above  instructions  you  will  see  that  the 
applications  for  re-employment  of  those  of  our  former  employes  who 
have  families  and  own  homes  upon  the  line  of  the  road  are  first  con- 
sidered. "  Yours  truly, 

"11.   M.  HOXIE, 

"  First  Vice-President." 

As  tragedy  begets  tragedy,  so  in  the  expiring  throes  of  this  great 
strike  more  blood  was  yet  destined  to  flow.  Win.  E.  Withers,  a  non- 
union switchman  and  private  watchman  in  the  employ  of  the  Bridge  and 
Tunnel  Company  in  St.  Louis,  being  assailed  by  three  strikers  on  April 
28th,  shot  and  killed,  in  self-defense,  one  of  them,  John  Gibbons,  j 
Withers  was  arrested,  but  soon  afterwards  discharged. 

But  the  most  outrageous  of  all  the  misdoings  of  these  two  months 
was  the  dastardly  wrecking  of  a  freight  train  on  the  Missouri  Pacific 
near  Wyandotte,  Kansas,  on  the  night  of  the  26th,  on  the  bluffs  of  the 
Kaw  river.  Spikes  were  pulled,  and  the  engine  and  part  of  the  train 
plunged  down  the  declivity  and  into  the  river.  The  engineer  jumped 
and  saved  his  life,  but  the  fireman,  William  Carlisle,  and  a  brakeman, 
John  Horton,  were  buried  beneath  the  wreck  in  the  water  and  mud  of 
the  Kaw  river. 

The  Knights  of  Labor  disclaimed  all  complicity  in  this  outrage,  but 
subsequently  three  of  their  number  were  arrested  on  strong  circum- 
stantial evidence  of  guilt,  and  they  are  at  this  writing  held  for  trial. 

This  closes  a  volume  of  horrors.  Record  of  scores  of  lesser  crimes 
is  necessarily  omitted.     The  military  had  been  withdrawn  from  turbulent 

l  s — 8 


114  BUREAU   OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 

points  everywhere,  except  only  those  of  Illinois  were  held  at  East  St. 
Louis,  when  on  the  4th  day  of  May,  1886,  the  great  strike  was  officially 
declared  "off." 

As  to  the  cause  of  the  strike,  if  cause  there  was,  from  a  patient 
reading  of  this  chronicle,  it  cannot  be  definitely  ascertained.  Reasons 
were  absent  before  its  inauguration,  and,  as  circumstances  demanded, 
were  multiplied  afterwards.  It  was  apparently  useless,  and*  will  go 
down  in  history  as  the  most  expensive  and  prolonged  strike  of  its  size  on 
record.  It  can  scarcely  be  attributed  to  a  conflict  between  labor  and 
capital,  because  such  a  conflict  can  never  exist.  It  cannot  be  attributed 
to  the  oppression  of  a  great  corporation,  for  it  is  of  record  that  it  paid  its 
employes  more  liberally  than  employes  of  any  other  class  of  business 
was  paid.  It  cannot  be  attributed  alone  to  the  obstinacy  of  employers, 
for  the  record  shows  they  were  always  willing  to  treat  with  the  em- 
ployes in  their  actual  service.  It  may  possibly  be  attributed  to  the 
ambition  and  bad  advice  of  smart  and  unscrupulous  men,  who  for 
selfish  purposes  procured  for  themselves  the  leadership  of  the  more 
easily  duped  masses  of  workingmen. 

However  it  may  be,  the  public,  the  producing  classes,  the  mercan- 
tile population,  everybody,  was  caused  to  suffer  even  more  than  the 
strikers  or  the  railroads,  though  their  losses  were  beyond  computation. 
The  loss  to  the  strikers  alone — about  9,000 — for  fifty  days'  loss  of 
wages,  at  the  low  average  of  two  dollars  per  day,  would  amount  to  the 
enormous  sum  of  £900.000.  The  loss  to  other  non-striking  employes, 
necessarily  deprived  of  employment  pending  the  strike,  is  roughly  esti- 
mated at  £500.000.  The  loss  of  property,  destruction  of  engines,  cars, 
bridges,  machinery,  etc.,  cannot  be  estimated  with  anything  like  close 
proximity  even  by  the  railway  companies  themselves.  The  loss  to  the 
general  public  certainly  amounted  to  millions  of  dollars.  To  an  agent 
of  this  Bureau  Mr.  Wm.  Kerrigan,  General  Superintendent  of  the  Mis- 
souri Pacific  Railway  Company,  in  reply  to  a  written  request,  has  courte- 
ously furnished  the  following  summary : 

"Dear  Sir — Replying  to  your  favor  of  November  20,  requesting 
certain  information  regarding  the  extent  of  the  late  labor  troubles, 
have  to  say  that  I  give  you  below  the  information  desired,  as  far  as  I 
am  enabled  to,  from  the  records  in  this  office : 


BUREAU   OF   LABOR   STATISTICS. 


115 


"NUMBER  OF  MEN  EMPLOYED  MARCH  6,  1886. 


"Transportation  department 

'  'Machinery  department 

"Engineers  and  firemen 

' '  Car  department 

'  'Road  department 

"Bridge  and  building-  department 

'  'Terminal  facilities 

"Total 


15,527 

1,996 

1,455 

1,067 

4,057 

777 

514 

13,393 


"  Of  this  number  the  figures  below  given  will  show  you  the  num- 
ber of  men  who  voluntarily  left  the  service  of  the  company  and  those 
who  were  suspended  from  duty  temporarily  by  reason  of  the  strike : 


Strikers. 

Suspended. 

' '  Mo.  Pac.  Division 

1.295 
188 
856 
614 
764 

1  776 

"C.  B.,  U.  Pac.  Division 

343 

'  'M.,  K.  &  T.  Division 

1,754 

662 

'  'I.  &  G.  N.  Division 

"  I.  M.  &  S.  Division 

1  560 

"Totals 

3,717 

6  095 

' '  Grand  total 

9,812 

"The  majority  of  the  men  who  struck  were  employed  in  the 
machinery  and  car  departments,  a  few  being  road,  bridge  and  build- 
ing department  men,  with  a  sprinkling  of  transportation  department 
men. 

"  Replying  to  that  part  of  your  letter  relative  to  the  extent  of  dam- 
age to  properties  of  this  company  at  various  points,  have  to  say  that 
such  damage  is  incalculable.     However,  I  give  you  below : 


116  BUREAU    OF  LABOR   STATISTICS. 


"STATEMENT  showing  cost  of  guarding  company  property  since  the  inaugura- 
tion of  the  strike,  March  6,  1886  : 


'  'Mo.  Pac.  Division,  March  6  to  April  20 

'  'Mo.,  Kan.  &  Texas  Division,  March  6  to  April  18 

"Mo.,  Kan.  &  Texas,  N.  Division,  March  0  to  April  19. 
"Central  Branch,  U.  P.  Division,  March  6  to  April  20  . 

"St.  L.,  I.  M.  &  S.  Division,  March  6  to  April  26 

"Int.  &  Gt.  Northern  Division,  March  6  to  April  18  . . . 
"Total 


527,185  04 
6,503  52 
4,885  12 


4,128  :{.-> 


12,300  19 
6,503  52 


$58,727  i)7 


"  From  these  figures  you  will  see  that  for  a  period  from  March  0 
to  April  20,  this  company  paid  out,  simply  on  account  of  wages  for 
guarding  property  alone,  the  sum  of  $58,727.97,  and  that  on  the  20th 
day  of  April  the  average  daily  amount  paid  out  for  guarding  property 
was  $1,055.  This  does  not  include  large  amount  of  money  paid  out  for 
boarding  guards,  for  arms  and  other  miscellaneous  expenses.  The  loss 
of  revenue  to  this  company,  taking  the  earnings  of  1885  as  a  compari- 
son, was  about  $2,500,000.  The  actual  damage  to  buildings,  bridges, 
engines,  etc.,  at  all  points,  and  expenses  rendered  necessary  by  reason 
of  the  strike  other  than  the  above,  have  not  been  ascertained,  but  it 
will  be  fair  to  say  that  $300,000  would  hardly  cover  it. 

"  Yours  truly, 

"WM.  KERRIGAN, 

"  General  Superintendent." 


It  will  be  observed  that  Mr.  Kerrigan's  estimate  of  losses  from 
official  records  is  only  for  the  Missouri  Pacific  road  and  leased  and 
operated  lines,  and  does  not  include  the  strikers  and  damage  done  and 
loss  of  business  on  the  Texas  &  Pacific  Railway,  nor  the  strikers  on 
the  Bridge  &  Tunnel  Company  in  St.  Louis,  nor  the  number  of  strikers 
and  loss  of  property  in  East  St.  Louis.  Therefore  the  estimate  of  this 
Bureau  is  doubtless  less  in  every  respect  than  it  should  be. 

When  the  strike  was  officially  declared  off  there  were  but  few  who 
were  affected  by  the  proclamation,  for  a  large  majority  of  the  strikers 
had  returned  to  work,  while  the  leaders  and  a  few  of  the  more  violent 
were  all  that  were  left  of  the  magnificent  armyof  two  months  before.  In 
a  few  days  these  disappeared  from  sight,  scattered  all  over  the  land, 
some   seeking   other   employment,    some   re-entering  railroal    service 


BUREVU   OP  LVBOR   STVTISTICS.  117 


under  assumed  names,  and  a  few  continuing  the  more  profitable  busi- 
ness of  lecturers  and  organizers  for  the  Knights  of  Labor. 

.  There  was  in  the  struggle  something  that  attracted  the  attention 
of  all  the  world.  There  was  the  grim,  unswerving  fixedness  of  pur- 
pose of  H.  M.  Hoxie.  The  time  had  come,  he  said,  when  the  question 
had  to  be  decided  whether  he  should  run  his  own  railroad  or  have  the 
Knights  of  Labor  run  it.  He  never  forgot  the  issue  and  never  relaxed 
his  determination  to  "  fight  it  out  on  that  line." 

On  the  other  hand,  there  was  an  army  of  desperate  and  deter- 
mined men  struggling  for  a  something  they  themselves  scarcely  knew 
what,  or  at  least  could  not  agree  upon.  They  had  been  made  to  feel  that 
they  were  oppressed.  The  precise  acts  of  oppression  could  not  well 
be  defined,  yet  they  must  have  believed  that  they  were  the  victims  of 
the  greed  of  corporations,  otherwise  their  desperate  efforts  to  win  a 
something  that  was  intangible  and  visionary  could  not  have  lasted  so 
long  and  cost  so  much  of  wealth,  comfort  and  human  life. 

It  is  fashionable  to  condemn  everything  that  has  proven  unsuc- 
cessful, but  in  the  great  strike  it  is  more  than  probable  that  th$  strike  y»3 
would  have  had  much  of  public  sympathy  and  moral  support,  even  if 
they  had  no  sufficient  cause,  had  not  the  vicious  element  become  dom- 
inant and  deeds  been  enacted  that  shocked  and  alarmed  the  people.  The 
disregard  for  the  conveniences  and  necessities  of  the  public  and  the 
losses  they  were  forced  to  sustain,  were  potent  influences  in  eliminat- 
ing a  moral  support,  without  which  no  cause  can  succeed. 

Every  right-thinking  man  necessarily  desires  the  elevation  of  labor 
and  the  betterment  of  the  condition  of  the  laborer,  but  this  must  not 
warrant  an  encroachment  on  the  vested  rights  of  others. 

The  strike,  as  senseless  as  it  appears  to  have  been,  will  not  have 
been  without  its  good  effects  if  it  speedily  brings  about  the  enactment 
of  laws  that  will  give  greater  protection  to  labor  and  greater  security 
to  property  against  vandalism. 


\o 


V 


